Sh53m for climate change research

By Renson Mnyamwezi

The Finnish Government has set aside Sh53.9 million for climate change studies and impact on the ecosystem in Taita Hills, Ethiopian Highlands and Mount Kilimanjaro.

At the same time, climate change experts are warning that the glacier on Mt Kilimanjaro is melting fast.

Previous studies have predicted that some islands on the Kenyan coast could disappear into the Indian Ocean in less than a century due to the rising sea spurred by global warming.

Kenya, Tanzania and Ethiopia will benefit from the money to foster better understanding of the impact of climate change on livelihoods and food security in the region, according to reports released by officials in Wundanyi yesterday.

Significant threat

“The study will increase knowledge, build capacity and develop adaptation strategies in the three states,” said Tino Johansson, Project Coordinator, Climate Change Impacts on Ecosystem Services.

Speaking at Taita Research Station in Wundanyi town, Dr Johansson said the target areas represents samples of the East African ecosystem.

He, however, said these areas are under significant threat due to the impacts of climatic change.

Johansson, who was accompanied by Prof Petri Pellikka of University of Helsinki, said the projects come at a time when glacier at the Mt Kilimanjaro was reducing at alarming levels.

The four-year project would enable farmers to adopt strategies to deal with climatic change to improve food security in  East African.