Studies in Sub-Saharan Africa – serie

The livelihood of the world’s population depends mostly on natural resources: land, forest, water and the air we breath. The continual degradation and diminution of these resources due to the cultivation of land threatens the economic and social security of individuals, communities and countries as well as the intricate web of ecological, social, economic and cultural relations that bind the global community together. To be productive, our resources must be managed properly, enriched and harvested responsibly.

While global warming and its consequences on humanity are being fiercely debated at the global scale, deliberate and pragmatic reflections on the subject in Sub-Sahara Africa remain muted, though this phenomenon is negatively impacting the livelihoods of her people. The unprecedented degradation of her natural resources, i.e., water, biodiversity, and soils are seen to be intricately linked to her increasing inability to meet the basic needs of her people. This book examines how global climate change impacts on Sub-Sahara Africa, the measures and strategies that would be used in facing it and actions presently implemented in combating it. A pragmatic community/state engagement synergy on climate change mitigation initiatives that rewards best practices is critical to its success. Though investments in research, technical know-how, dedicated commitment and dissemination mechanisms would be inevitable to draw the continent from the precipice, the role of regulatory enforcement mechanisms and a legal framework addressing land use rights permissible within given landscapes is seen to be central to the success of this endeavor.