UNEP Project Aids Burundian Farmers in Climate Change Adaptation

In Burundi, a UN Environment Programme (UNEP) project is helping farmers like Philbert Ntaciyica adapt to climate change through nature-based solutions. This initiative, funded by the Adaptation Fund, is part of the broader Adapting to Climate Change in the Lake Victoria Basin project.

Climate change adaptation is essential for ensuring food security and sustainable livelihoods in vulnerable communities. If left unaddressed, climate change can lead to devastating consequences, including crop failures, water scarcity, and displacement of people.

Burundi is facing severe impacts from climate change, including heavy rainfall, flooding, and droughts. Temperatures are projected to rise between 1.5°C and 2.5°C by 2050, exacerbating these weather patterns and threatening agriculture, food security, and water access.

The UNEP project has introduced several nature-based solutions to help 2,000 farmers adapt to these changes. These measures include planting 230,000 trees, such as avocado and grevillea, to prevent soil erosion, and constructing terraces along 240 hectares of farmland to stop soil from sliding down hillsides.

Philbert Ntaciyica, a farmer in Nzove village, has seen significant improvements in his harvests of beans and cassava since implementing these solutions. "The contours help us to prevent soil erosion and landslides," he said. Because the water remains in those contours, it keeps the land humid, and we get better harvests. Where we used to harvest one sack, now we get two."

The project has also supported fishers like Ezechiel Bizimana by providing a new fish drying kiln that reduces deforestation and improves the quality of smoked fish. Bizimana has observed an improvement in water quality and a potential recovery of fish stocks in Lake Rweru.

The success of this project highlights the importance of protecting and utilizing natural resources to benefit communities. The livelihoods of 45 million people across Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya depend on the Lake Victoria Basin's resources, making regional collaboration essential.

As climate change continues to pose challenges, initiatives like the UNEP project demonstrate that nature-based solutions can significantly improve agricultural productivity and sustainability, offering hope for communities facing similar environmental threats.

Key Takeaways

• UNEP project helps Burundian farmers adapt to climate change with nature-based solutions.
• Climate change threatens food security and livelihoods in vulnerable communities.
• Burundi faces severe climate impacts, including heavy rainfall, flooding, and droughts.
• Project introduces solutions like tree planting and terracing to prevent soil erosion.
• Nature-based solutions improve agricultural productivity and sustainability.