Mountains play a vital role in sustaining life, supporting livelihoods, preserving ecosystems, and driving the green economy. They are essential providers of resources such as water, food, and clean energy. As the sources of many major rivers, mountains underpin ecosystems, communities, and economies by ensuring freshwater availability and maintaining ecological balance.
Mountain forests and vegetation help regulate the climate by absorbing carbon dioxide, thereby contributing to climate mitigation efforts. These ecosystems are also biodiversity hotspots, home to unique flora and fauna. Economically, mountains generate significant value through activities such as tourism, renewable energy production, and agriculture.
Investing in sustainable mountain management is essential for Africa’s well-being and development. It enhances economic opportunities, safeguards wildlife and natural resources, and bolsters climate resilience across the continent, ensuring sustainable progress for future generations.
Livelihoods and Communities
Across Africa, mountains directly provide essential services and resources for over 202 million people, with activities such as agriculture, fisheries, and water provision crucial to sustaining their livelihoods. Major rivers, including the Nile, Congo, and Zambezi, originate in mountainous regions, supplying fresh drinking water and supporting activities that sustain the livelihoods of nearby communities.
For instance, in Ethiopia, the Bale Mountains are home to many highland farmers who rely on the region’s resources to practise small-scale agriculture. Similarly, Lesotho’s mountains provide water not only for its own population but also for South Africa, including Gauteng Province and Johannesburg, via the Lesotho Highlands Water Project. Approximately 60% of Gauteng’s water supply originates from Lesotho, playing a critical role in drinking water provision and supporting small businesses, households, and industries that rely on water for activities ranging from food production to manufacturing and cleaning.
Local communities also benefit economically from tourism-related activities. For example, Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania generates over $50 million annually from tourism. In South Africa, Table Mountain National Park attracted over 2.8 million visitors in 2023, creating economic benefits for those working directly in tourism as well as broader local and regional communities.
Wildlife and Biodiversity
Mountains are biodiversity hotspots, hosting unique ecosystems and species found nowhere else in the world. They serve as wildlife corridors for migratory species and are critical for the survival of many endangered species.
The Atlas Mountains in Morocco, for instance, are home to over 400 endemic species, including the Barbary macaque, the only wild primate native to the region. In Sierra Leone, the Loma Mountains National Park shelters endangered species such as the Denizen chimpanzee and a diverse array of birds unique to the area. Ethiopia’s highlands are home to the Ethiopian wolf, found in the Bale and Simien Mountains. Meanwhile, the Rwenzori Mountains in Uganda support rare bird species, including the Rwenzori blue turaco, which is seldom found elsewhere in the Albertine Rift Valley.
Ecosystem Services and Climate Resilience
Mountains provide critical ecosystem services, including water, food, and energy security, while contributing to biodiversity conservation. They act as breadbaskets for wildlife and communities in mountainous and adjacent lowland regions.
Mountains play a crucial role in regulating water as natural catchments, which is vital for drought-prone areas across Africa and for mitigating climate change. For example, Mount Kenya and the Drakensberg Mountains in South Africa supply freshwater to large populations. Additionally, mountains act as natural barriers against extreme weather events, storing water in reservoirs and preventing downstream flooding during heavy rains. Mountain vegetation reduces soil erosion, preserving fertile land and healthy watersheds.
Scaling up mountain ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) projects and agroforestry practices, such as those on Uganda’s Mount Elgon, can enrich soil, improve natural resource management, and build climate resilience against disasters like floods and landslides.
Contributing to the Green Economy
Mountains are integral to the green economy, providing ecosystem services that can be leveraged for economic development. Activities such as agroforestry, eco-tourism, renewable energy production, and climate-smart agriculture contribute to accelerating Africa’s transition to a green economy.
Mountain hydropower offers a sustainable pathway for renewable energy expansion, reducing dependence on fossil fuels and creating clean energy jobs. Ethiopia’s highlands exemplify this potential, with the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) set to produce over 15,700 GWh annually. Similarly, ecotourism in regions such as Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya generates income and diversifies livelihoods by leveraging biodiversity and scenic landscapes. Nature-based tourism, including mountain gorilla tracking in Uganda and Rwanda, further supports the green economy.
Climate-smart agricultural practices, such as agroforestry and terracing, preserve soil and water. Examples include highland coffee cultivation in Kenya. Reforestation and biodiversity conservation initiatives also bolster climate resilience and ecosystems, contributing to long-term sustainability.
Policies and Legislative Frameworks
Effective policies and legislative frameworks at global, regional, and national levels are vital to ensure sustainable mountain management. These frameworks address climate-related challenges, biodiversity loss, and the development of the green economy, reinforcing the role of mountains as pillars of life and sustainability.
Global frameworks, such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goals 6, 13, and 15, promote water security and ecosystem protection, aligning with mountain conservation. The Paris Agreement encourages mountain-specific climate adaptation strategies to enhance resilience and biodiversity. Regionally, the African Regional Mountains Forum advocates for strengthening transboundary and regional frameworks for mountain ecosystems, complemented by the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which emphasises the importance of natural habitats, including mountains, in achieving sustainability and climate resilience.
At the national level, policies such as Tanzania’s Forest Act and Uganda’s Wildlife Act protect mountain ecosystems, while community-based conservation initiatives empower local management. Kenya’s National Adaptation Plan and Ethiopia’s Climate-Resilient Green Economy (CRGE) strategy provide frameworks that support conservation and renewable energy development. These policies enhance disaster risk reduction, ecosystem-based adaptation, regional collaboration, and access to global climate finance, promoting resilience and sustainable growth.
Conclusion
Mountains are integral to Africa’s ecosystems, livelihoods, and green economy potential. By providing essential resources, supporting biodiversity, and strengthening climate resilience, they underpin sustainable progress. Protecting mountain ecosystems through sustainable management and effective policies is crucial for advancing Africa’s green development, empowering communities, and fostering economic opportunities while preserving the continent’s natural heritage for future generations.
Author: Kennedy Simango
Research Analyst
