Assessing the impacts of climate change on ecosystem services in African montane ecosystems

The 2030 agenda for sustainable development by the United Nations emphasizes the need to “protect the planet from degradation……” (UN, 2015). In this resolution, Sustainable Development Goals seek to sustainably manage terrestrial ecosystems and halt the loss of biodiversity (goal 15). Achieving this goal requires a comprehensive assessment of terrestrial ecosystems and the services they generate for humanity. It also involves understanding how climate change will impact these ecosystems and their services and finding ways to adapt to changing conditions. African montane forests, despite constituting only 8% of Africa’s forest cover and having lower species diversity with relatively smaller trees compared to lowland forests, are important carbon stores. These forests harbour a significant amount of biodiversity and provide substantial ecosystem services such as watershed protection. Because they are small, they are highly susceptible to disturbances, and it is a matter of urgency to facilitate their conservation and management. My project will focus on assessing the impacts of climate change on the ecosystem services of montane landscapes in Nigeria and examining the adaptation of local communities to climate change. Information on ecosystem services and the impacts of climate change on ecosystem services will be collected from members of local communities living within and around this ecosystem. The ecosystem services provided by these forests will be quantified. Also, the adaptive strategies used by communities will be assessed and tested.