African Mountains Status Report

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

African Mountains Status Report AFRICAN MOUNTAINS STATUS REPORT ALBERTINE RIFT CONSERVATION SOCIETY Albertine Rift Conservation Society (ARCOS) Africa Mountains Status Report Produced by the Albertine Rift Conservation Society (ARCOS) with fi nancial support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). Legal notice Th e contents of this publication do not necessarily refl ect the offi cial opinions of the Albertine Rift Conservation Society. Copyright notice ©ARCOS Network, Kampala (Uganda) and Cambridge (UK), 2014. Reproduction is authorised, provided the source is acknowledged, save where otherwise stated. Suggested Citation Alweny S., Nsengiyumva P., and Gatarabirwa W. (2014). Africa Sustainable Mountain Development Technical Report No. 1, ARCOS, October 2014. Cover Photo Credit: ARCOS Network or as indicated Front cover Image: Mount Karisimbi, Rwanda. Photo Credit: ARCOS is page image: Mountain Gorilla - Photo/ WWF UK For any further information contact: Albertine Rift Conservation Society, African Mountains Programme Email: [email protected] Disclaimer Th e ideas presented in this publication do not necessarily refl ect the offi cial position of the Albertine Rift Conservation Society. Th e designations employed and the presentation of the material do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of ARCOS concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or its authorities or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Any errors and misrepresentations are highly regretted. CONTENTS Preface 5 Executive Summary 6 CHAPTER 1 8 GENERAL OVERVIEW OF AFRICAN MOUNTAINS 8 1.1 ORIGIN AND DESCRIPTION OF SOME OF AFRICA’S MAJOR MOUNTAINS 8 1.1.1 Mount Kenya in Kenya 9 1.1.2 Mount Kilimanjaro 9 1.1.3 The Drakensberg Mountain Range in Southern Africa 10 1.1.4 The Fouta Djallon mountain range 10 1.1.5 Madagascar highlands 11 CHAPTER 2 12 AFRICAN MOUNTAIN ECOSYSTEM goods AND SERVICES 12 2.1. Fresh Water 13 2.2. Energy 14 2.3. Support to Agriculture 14 2.4. Biodiversity 14 2.5. Non-Timber Forest Products 14 2.6 Ecological Services 14 2.7 Formation of local area weather and rainfall 15 2.8 Carbon Sequestration 15 2.9 Tourism 15 CHAPTER 3 16 CHALLENGES AND DRIVERS OF CHANGES IN AFRICAN MOUNTAINS 16 3.1. DIRECT DRIVERS 16 3.1.1 Water conflicts 16-17 3.1.2 Deforestation 17-18 3.1.3 Mining in Mountain Areas 18-19 3.1.4 Mass Mountain Tourism 20 3.1.5 Livestock and Agriculture Production 20 3.1.6 Climate Change 20-21 3.2. INDIRECT DRIVERS 21 3.2.1 Population Growth and High Population Densities 21-22 3.2.2 Poor and Weak Management System 22 3.2.3 Poverty and Lack of Alternative Livelihood 22-23 3.2.4 Lack of Environmental Awareness amongst Local Communities 23 CHAPTER 4 24 MEETING THE CHALLENGES FOR AFRICAN MOUNTAIN COMMUNITIES 24 4.1. Ecosystem-Based Adaptation to Climate Change and Poverty Reduction 24-25 4.2. Integrated Water Resource Management 25 4.3 Ecotourism as a complement to Traditional Tourism 26 4.4. Payment for Ecosystem Services 26-27 4.5 Adaptable Protected Areas Network 27 4.6 Community Involvement in Sustainable Forest Management 27-28 4.7 Science and Technology 28 4.8 Creation of jobs 28 Africa Mountains Status Report No.1 3 CHAPTER 5 30 KEY POLICY QUESTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ACTION 30 5.1 Key Policy Issues in Mountains 30-31 5.2 Mountain Agenda in International and National Policies 32 5.3. Recommendations for Actions 32 REFERENCES 33-34 List of Figures Figure 1 Mountain Ecosystem Goods and Services 9 Figure 2: Some of the most important mountain areas for lowland water resources 11 Figure 3 Water Towers in Africa 12 Figure 4 The Albertine Rift Bioregion 14 Figure 5. River Basin Treaties and Institutions 20 Figure 6: Projected climate change Impacts for Agriculture in Africa, in potential cereal output for 2080 28 List of Boxes Box 1 Integrated Water Resource Management in Pangani River Basin, Tanzania 36 Box 2. The evolution and impacts of community-based ecotourism in northern Tanzania 37 Box 3. Research on impacts of climate change on montane ecosystems and services supporting food security in Eastern Africa 41 Africa Mountains Status Report No.1 4 Preface Despite the very evident policy framework in In 1992, heads place not only at the international, regional of government and national levels, African countries are doing of most of the very little to support the cause for Sustainable world’s nations Mountain Development. For example at national at the UN level, most African countries do not have Conference on specifi c policies or laws presumably because Environment mountains have not been recognised as unique a n d ecosystems that might require special attention. Development Dr. Sam Kanyamibwa (UNCED or During the Africa Mountains Partnership (AMP) Executive Director, ARCOS ‘Rio Earth members meeting organized by ARCOS in Summit’) signed collaboration with the Mountain Partnership a plan of action Secretariat, IUCN and UNEP in Kigali in known as ‘Agenda 21’ and Chapter 13 which February 2013, AMP members called for more focusses on ‘Managing Fragile Ecosystems: eff ort in mainstreaming mountains in countries Sustainable Mountain Development’. development agenda. To take this initiative forward, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation Twenty years later at the UN Conference on (SDC) consequently, provided fi nancial support Sustainable Development (UNCSD) known as to ARCOS for implementing a pilot project Rio+20 was held in the same Brazilian city-Rio “Sustainable African Mountains. Exploratory de Janeiro, Brazil in June 2012 and mountains Phase: Building Bridges between Policy and Science and their communities received renewed global for Sustainable Mountain Development” which attention, culminating to the inclusion of three developed to form part of a global programme paragraphs (210, 211, 212) of the UNCSD’s “Sustainable Mountain Development for Global Outcome Document entitled the “Future Change (SMD4GC)”, implemented by ARCOS We Want”, entirely dedicated to mountains. and other SDC Partners around the world. One of the key objectives of the SMD4GC programme is Other Multilateral Environmental Agreements to ¬launch instruments for Sustainable Mountain such as the Convention on Biological Diversity and Development (e.g. initiatives, actions, legislation). the Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar, Iran, 1971) recognize the biological, hydrological, cultural Despite their abundance in ecosystem goods and and socio-economic importance of mountain services, mountains remain among the ecosystems ecosystems and call for appropriate and timely poorest documented. Th ere is need for monitoring actions to improving the awareness, understanding and documentation, for enhancement of knowledge and management of their functions and values. of mountain processes and for improved capacities. Th ese critical gaps need to be closed in order to have At the Africa level, many countries, organizations, better informed stakeholders and policy-makers institutions and individuals are members of the that intend to shape global sustainable development. global partnership on sustainable development in mountains, the Partnership and are engaged in various Th e African Mountains Status Report provides initiatives to promote the cause of sustainability information on the status, trends and levels of mountain ecosystems and communities. of threats aff ecting mountain ecosystems and communities (including climate change, extractive Connected to this, in September 2012, at its 14th industries, natural disaster, water resources, land session, the African Ministerial Conference on use changes and food security) in Africa. Th e the Environment came up with “the Arusha process of compiling this report, started in August Declaration on Africa’s post Rio+20 Strategy for 2013 and benefi ted input from various experts, Sustainable Development” which made clear Mountain Partnership members and specialised reference to the sustainability of mountains in institutions that we take the opportunity to thank Africa. Th e AMCEN then asked the United Nations for their contribution in the development and Environment Programme (UNEP) to support the production of this report. Special thanks go to implementation of the agreed decision under the SDC for the fi nancial support without which, Rio+20 Conference regarding mountains in Africa. this report would not have been compiled. At national and the sub - regional level, management Dr. Sam Kanyamibwa of mountain ecosystems is also provided for by Executive Director, ARCOS some policies and instruments, putting emphasise October 2014 on the need to protect mountain ecosystems such as critical water catchments, conservation, heritage areas and other areas of common strategic interest at local, national, regional and international levels. Africa Mountains Status Report No.1 5 Executive Summary Chapter 5 presents policy questions in light of This report is divided into five chapters with sustainable mountain development in Africa each under a different and unique theme. with a general concern of low representation, mention and attention to mountains in sectoral Chapter one presents a general overview of African policies and laws in most African countries. It mountains, their real coverage, regional distribution also provides policy recommendations including and a general overview of the origin and description the adoption of mountain-specific policies, of Africa’s major mountains including Mt Kenya trans-boundary frameworks on mountains in Kenya, Mount Kilimanjaro, the
Recommended publications
  • African Mountains: Water Towers in Need of Attention Policy Brief
    African Mountains: Water Towers in need of Attention Policy brief majority of water to the entire sub-region. Hydropower is the Introduction main source of clean energy in most mountainous areas of Africa. The consistent flow of water from mountains is Mountains cover 25% of the world’s land surface, and are essential for this clean energy. In a continent highly home to about 10% of its population, most of whom depend dependent on traditional energy sources and badly affected on mountain resources for their livelihoods. A key link by rising oil prices, mountains can thus significantly between the actions of mountain and wider populations is contribute to energy security. The conditions in mountain that most of the world’s major rivers rise in mountain areas: regions allow for higher and better quality yields, significantly mountains are the world’s ‘water towers’, and the contributing to regional and lowland food security. sustainable management of their watersheds is vital for the Mountains house many ecosystems such as forests, provision of high-quality water to billions of people, as well as grasslands, drylands, rivers and wetlands. The Fynbos Biome for ensuring that the risks of natural hazards, such as floods in South Africa is home to 6,200 endemic plant species, and and landslides, are minimized. Mt. Mlanje, the Rwenzori Mountains, Mt. Cameroon, the Fouta Djallon and the Ethiopian highlands all have high levels During the World Summit on Sustainable Development in of endemic species. Over 50% of African birds, 39% of Johannesburg (2002), a Type-II Partnership “The International mammals, 19% of amphibians and 14% of reptiles are found Partnership for Sustainable Development in Mountain in the Albertine Rift region.
    [Show full text]
  • Application of Scripting Cartographic Methods to Geophysical Mapping and Seismicity in Rwenzori Mountains and Albertine Graben, Uganda Polina Lemenkova
    Application of scripting cartographic methods to geophysical mapping and seismicity in Rwenzori mountains and Albertine Graben, Uganda Polina Lemenkova To cite this version: Polina Lemenkova. Application of scripting cartographic methods to geophysical mapping and seis- micity in Rwenzori mountains and Albertine Graben, Uganda. Makerere University Journal of Agri- cultural and Environmental Sciences, 2021, 10 (1), pp.1-21. 10.5281/zenodo.5082861. hal-03282142 HAL Id: hal-03282142 https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-03282142 Submitted on 8 Jul 2021 HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est archive for the deposit and dissemination of sci- destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents entific research documents, whether they are pub- scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, lished or not. The documents may come from émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de teaching and research institutions in France or recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires abroad, or from public or private research centers. publics ou privés. Distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution| 4.0 International License Lemenkova, P. Makerere University Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Vol. 10 (1). pp. 1 - 21, 2021 Printed in Uganda. All rights reserved © Makerere University 2021 ISSN 1563-3721 Application of scripting cartographic methods to geophysical mapping and seismicity in Rwenzori mountains and Albertine Graben, Uganda Lemenkova, P.1 1Schmidt Institute of Physics of the
    [Show full text]
  • Jurassic Detrital Zircons from Asenitsa Unit, Central Rhodope Massif
    СПИСАНИЕ НА БЪЛГАРСКОТО ГЕОЛОГИЧЕСКО ДРУЖЕСТВО, год. 80, кн. 3, 2019, с. 64–65 REVIEW OF THE BULGARIAN GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY, vol. 80, part 3, 2019, p. 64–65 Национална конференция с международно участие „ГЕОНАУКИ 2019“ National Conference with international participation “GEOSCIENCES 2019” Jurassic detrital zircons from Asenitsa unit, Central Rhodope Massif, Bulgaria Детритни циркони с юрска възраст от единицата Асеница, Централни Родопи, България Milena Georgieva1, Tzvetomila Vladinova2, Valerie Bosse3 Милена Георгиева1, Цветомила Владинова2, Валери Бос3 1 Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd., 1504 Sofia, Bulgaria; E-mail: [email protected] 2 Geological Institute, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. G. Bonchev Str., Bl. 24, 1113, Sofia, Bulgaria; E-mail: [email protected] 3 Université Clermont Auvergne (UCA), Clermont Ferrand – France, Campus universitaire des Cézeaux, 6 av. Blaise Pascal; E-mail: [email protected] Keywords: Asenitsa unit, detrital zircons, U-Th-Pb geochronology, Rhodope massif, Bulgaria. Introduction and geological setting sociation. Muscovite appears both as inclusions in garnets and bands in the matrix, defining the folia- Detrital accessory minerals in metasediments and tion and as large flakes, oriented obliquely to the other metamorphic rocks are useful tool to deter- foliation in the matrix. Chlorite is rare and biotite mine the time of sedimentation and the provenance is observed only as small idioblastic flakes in the of the sedimentary material. The Asenitsa lithotec- quartz bands. Accessory minerals are rutile, zircon, tonic unit (Sarov, 2012) occupies the highest level of apatite and abundant opaque minerals. the Central Rhodope metamorphic terrain (Bulgaria) The epidote-biotite schist belongs to the metaig- and comprises metaigneous and metasedimentary neous part of the Asenitsa unit.
    [Show full text]
  • Late Precambrian Balkan-Carpathian Ophiolite
    University of South Florida Masthead Logo Scholar Commons Geology Faculty Publications Geology 10-2001 Late Precambrian Balkan-Carpathian Ophiolite - A Slice of the Pan-African Ocean Crust?: Geochemical and Tectonic Insights from the Tcherni Vrah and Deli Jovan Massifs, Bulgaria and Serbia Ivan P. Savov University of South Florida, [email protected] Jeffrey G. Ryan University of South Florida, [email protected] Ivan Haydoutov Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Geological Institute Johan Schijf University of South Florida Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/gly_facpub Part of the Geology Commons Scholar Commons Citation Savov, Ivan P.; Ryan, Jeffrey G.; Haydoutov, Ivan; and Schijf, Johan, "Late Precambrian Balkan-Carpathian Ophiolite - A Slice of the Pan-African Ocean Crust?: Geochemical and Tectonic Insights from the Tcherni Vrah and Deli Jovan Massifs, Bulgaria and Serbia" (2001). Geology Faculty Publications. 139. https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/gly_facpub/139 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Geology at Scholar Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Geology Faculty Publications by an authorized administrator of Scholar Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research 110 *2001) 299±318 www.elsevier.com/locate/jvolgeores Late Precambrian Balkan-Carpathian ophiolite Ð a slice of the Pan-African ocean crust?: geochemical and tectonic insights from the Tcherni Vrah and Deli Jovan massifs, Bulgaria and Serbia Ivan Savova,*, Jeff Ryana, Ivan Haydoutovb, Johan Schijfc aDepartment of Geology, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., SCA 520, Tampa, FL 33620-5201, USA bBulgarian Academy of Sciences, Geological Institute, So®a 1113, Bulgaria cDepartment of Marine Science, University of South Florida, 140 7th Ave S, St.
    [Show full text]
  • The Rwenzori Mountains, a Landslide- Prone Region?
    The Rwenzori Mountains, a landslide- prone region? Liesbet Jacobs, Olivier Dewitte, Jean Poesen, Damien Delvaux, Wim Thiery & Matthieu Kervyn Landslides Journal of the International Consortium on Landslides ISSN 1612-510X Landslides DOI 10.1007/s10346-015-0582-5 1 23 Your article is protected by copyright and all rights are held exclusively by Springer- Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. This e-offprint is for personal use only and shall not be self- archived in electronic repositories. If you wish to self-archive your article, please use the accepted manuscript version for posting on your own website. You may further deposit the accepted manuscript version in any repository, provided it is only made publicly available 12 months after official publication or later and provided acknowledgement is given to the original source of publication and a link is inserted to the published article on Springer's website. The link must be accompanied by the following text: "The final publication is available at link.springer.com”. 1 23 Author's personal copy Original Paper Landslides Liesbet Jacobs I Olivier Dewitte I Jean Poesen I Damien Delvaux I Wim Thiery I Matthieu Kervyn DOI 10.1007/s10346-015-0582-5 Received: 17 July 2014 Accepted: 7 April 2015 The Rwenzori Mountains, a landslide-prone region? © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2015 Abstract With its exceptionally steep topography, wet climate, Rwenzori Mountains while Bauer et al. (2010) state that landslides and active faulting, landslides can be expected to occur in the play a significant role in erosion processes in the region. However, Rwenzori Mountains. Whether or not this region is prone to except for a brief description of a landslide damming the Bujuku landsliding and more generally whether global landslide invento- River (Eggermont et al.
    [Show full text]
  • The Reintroduction of Eurasian Griffon Monachus Vultures to France
    Chancellor, R. D. & B.-U. Meyburg eds. 2004 Raptors Worldwide WWGBP/MME A Success Story: The Reintroduction of Eurasian Griffon Gyps fulvus and Black Aegypius monachus Vultures to France Michel Terrasse, François Sarrazin, Jean-Pierre Choisy, Céline Clémente, Sylvain Henriquet, Philippe Lécuyer, Jean Louis Pinna, and Christian Tessier ABSTRACT By the end of the 1960s, the future of vultures in France appeared bleak. Apart from the western half of the Pyrenees, with residual populations of Eurasian Griffon Gyps fulvus and Bearded Vultures Gypaetus barbatus, and Corsica with a few Bearded Vultures, most of France had lost its large vultures including the Black Vulture Aegypius monachus. Within the scope of a national conservation campaign, a process to restore raptor communities began. Concerning vultures, this was completed through reintroduction programmes. After the success of the Griffon Vulture reintroduction, started in 1968 in the Grands Causses of the Massif Central, other programmes followed in the 90s: Black Vultures in the Massif Central and then Griffon Vultures in the Southern Alps. In 2003 a viable population of Griffon Vultures in the Massif Central contained around 110 pairs. The same situation occurred in the Alps with about 50 breeding pairs of Griffon Vultures. Ten years after the beginning of the Black Vulture releases, the free ranging population included 11 breeding pairs. Accurate monitoring during the reintroduction period allowed us to estimate demographic parameters such as survival and breeding rates, evolution of breeding and foraging territories, main threats, movements between reintroduced populations and those from neighbouring countries, acceptance by people and the beneficial part played by vultures in what is called sustainable development.
    [Show full text]
  • Interpretation of the Regional Significance of the Chain Lakes Massif, Maine Based Upon Preliminary Isotopic Studies
    Maine Geological Survey Studies in Maine Geology: Volume 4 1989 Interpretation of the Regional Significance of the Chain Lakes Massif, Maine based upon Preliminary Isotopic Studies Michael M. Cheatham* William J. Olszewski Henri E. Gaudette Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans and Space Science and Engineering Research Building University of New Hampshire Durham, New Hampshire 03824 *Present address: Department ofGeological Sciences Snee Hall Cornell University Ithaca, New York 14853 ABSTRACT The Chain Lakes massif of northwestern Maine and adjacent Quebec contrasts sharply in lithology, metamor­ phism, deformation, and age with surrounding rocks, and has been considered a suspect terrane in the northern Appalachians. The massif is composed of aquagene metavolcanic and metasedimentary rocks, massive granofels and poorly stratified gneisses containing clasts of volcanic, plutonic, and sedimentary rocks which show evidence of previous deformation and metamorphism. Rocks of the Chain Lakes massif have been metamorphosed to upper amphibolite-granulite fades, although a later retrograde event (epidote-pumpellyite fades) is also recognized. Mild thermal effects and cataclasis resulted from overthrusting of the Boil Mountain ophiolite in the southern portion of the massif. The massif has generally been assigned a Precambrian age. Although previous age work on the massif is ambiguous, stratigraphic constraints and isotopic results from surrounding rocks constrain the age of the massif only to the pre-Late Ordovician. A total of 40 whole rock samples have been petrographically examined, 27 of which were analyzed by Rb-Sr and Sm-Nd isotopic techniques in order to determine the number, grades, and ages of the various metamorphic events affecting the massif, the age of the protolith material, and to constrain the age of deposition of the material in the massif.
    [Show full text]
  • South-East Asia Second Edition CHARLES S
    Geological Evolution of South-East Asia Second Edition CHARLES S. HUTCHISON Geological Society of Malaysia 2007 Geological Evolution of South-east Asia Second edition CHARLES S. HUTCHISON Professor emeritus, Department of geology University of Malaya Geological Society of Malaysia 2007 Geological Society of Malaysia Department of Geology University of Malaya 50603 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the Geological Society of Malaysia ©Charles S. Hutchison 1989 First published by Oxford University Press 1989 This edition published with the permission of Oxford University Press 1996 ISBN 978-983-99102-5-4 Printed in Malaysia by Art Printing Works Sdn. Bhd. This book is dedicated to the former professors at the University of Malaya. It is my privilege to have collabo­ rated with Professors C. S. Pichamuthu, T. H. F. Klompe, N. S. Haile, K. F. G. Hosking and P. H. Stauffer. Their teaching and publications laid the foundations for our present understanding of the geology of this complex region. I also salute D. ]. Gobbett for having the foresight to establish the Geological Society of Malaysia and Professor Robert Hall for his ongoing fascination with this region. Preface to this edition The original edition of this book was published by known throughout the region of South-east Asia. Oxford University Press in 1989 as number 13 of the Unfortunately the stock has become depleted in 2007. Oxford monographs on geology and geophysics.
    [Show full text]
  • WATER RESOURCES ASSESSMENT of HAITI August 1999
    WATER RESOURCES ASSESSMENT OF HAITI August 1999 Haiti Dominican Republic US Army Corps of Engineers Mobile District and Topographic Engineering Center Water Resources Assessment of Haiti Executive Summary Haiti is one of the most densely populated countries in the world and one of the poorest in the Western Hemisphere. The population has already outstripped domestic food production, and it is estimated that the population will be 8 million by the year 2000. One-third of the population lives in the Département de l’Ouest where Port-au-Prince is located. Heavy migration from rural areas to towns and cities occurring over the past decade has adversely affected the distribution of the water supply. Access to water and sanitation facilities is inadequate, contributing to poor living conditions, disease, and a high mortality rate. In 1990 only 39 percent of the 5.9 million residents had adequate access to water and only 24 percent to sanitation. The lack of potable water for basic human needs is one of the most critical problems in the country. Given the rainfall and abundant water resources, there is adequate water to meet the water demands, but proper management to develop and maintain the water supply requirements is lacking. However, the water supply sector is undergoing complete transformation. Although currently there is no comprehensive water policy, progress is being made towards establishing a national water resources management policy. Numerous agencies and non-government organizations (NGO’s) are working to provide water, many of which conduct their missions with little or no coordination with other agencies, which creates duplication of work and inefficient use of resources.
    [Show full text]
  • ECFG Rwanda 2021R.Pdf
    About this Guide This guide is designed to prepare you to deploy to culturally complex environments and achieve mission objectives. The fundamental information contained within will help you understand the cultural dimension of your assigned location and gain skills necessary for success.. ECFG The guide consists of 2 parts: Part 1 introduces “Culture General,” the foundational knowledge you need to operate effectively in any Rwanda global environment. Part 2 presents “Culture Specific” Rwanda, focusing on unique cultural features of Rwandan society and is designed to complement other pre- deployment training. It applies culture-general concepts to help increase your knowledge of your assigned deployment location. For further information, visit the Air Force Culture and Language Center (AFCLC) website at www.airuniversity.af.edu/AFCLC/ or contact AFCLC’s Region Team at [email protected]. Disclaimer: All text is the property of the AFCLC and may not be modified by a change in title, content, or labeling. It may be reproduced in its current format with the expressed permission of the AFCLC. All photography is provided as a courtesy of the US government, Wikimedia, and other sources as indicated. GENERAL CULTURE CULTURE PART 1 – CULTURE GENERAL What is Culture? Fundamental to all aspects of human existence, culture shapes the way humans view life and functions as a tool we use to adapt to our social and physical environments. A culture is the sum of all of the beliefs, values, behaviors, and symbols that have meaning for a society. All human beings have culture, and individuals within a culture share a general set of beliefs and values.
    [Show full text]
  • 10 Best Mountain Treks in Africa 1 MOUNT KILIMANJARO TANZANIA
    10 Best Mountain Treks in Africa From the Atlas Mountains of Morocco all the way down to South Africa’s Drakensberg, Africa has got the best and most popular trekking destinations with Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in the continent at the top of the list. 1 MOUNT KILIMANJARO TANZANIA Climbing Africa’s highest mountain peak is not for the faint of heart. At 19,336 feet high, Mount Kilimanjaro is Africa’s highest peak. Every year at least 20,000 people attempt to climb up the mountain through the 5 different climatic zones. Situated in the Kilimanjaro National Park in Tanzania, this geological wonder is any mountaineers dream climb. There are different routes up Mount Kilimanjaro. Each route has a degree of difficulty in climbing, traffic and scenic beauty. The longer the route you take the less difficult the climbing is and the more you enjoy trekking up the mountain. The least difficult routes are Marangu and Rongai; the more difficult routes are Machame, Shira, and Lemosho. The longer routes have more difficult hiking but you'll be more acclimatized and your chances of reaching the summit are therefore higher. Kilimanjaro National Park is rich in unique bird life, wildlife and beautiful flora. We suggest getting to know the area before your trek, as there is so much to enjoy before your climb. Due to the proximity to the equator and warm Indian ocean, much of the mountain slopes are rich areas of forest, with 195 unique bird species that call this home. As you ascend the mountainous terrain, the landscape changes from lush forest to alpine moorland, interspersed with valleys and ravines.
    [Show full text]
  • Morpho-Tectonic Analysis of the East African Rift System
    MORPHO-TECTONIC ANALYSIS OF THE EAST AFRICAN RIFT SYSTEM By LIANG XUE Bachelor of Engineer in Geological Engineering Central South University Changsha, China 2011 Master of Science in Geology Missouri University of Science and Technology Rolla, Missouri 2014 Submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate College of the Oklahoma State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY July, 2018 MORPHO-TECTONIC ANALYSIS OF THE EAST AFRICAN RIFT SYSTEM Dissertation Approved: Dr. Mohamed Abdelsalam Dissertation Adviser Dr. Estella Atekwana Dr. Danial Lao Davila Dr. Amy Frazier Dr. Javier Vilcaez Perez ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This research could never have been completed without the support of my mentors, colleagues, friends, and family. I would thank my advisor, Dr. Mohamed Abdelsalam, who has introduced me to the geology of the East African Rift System. I was given so much trust, encouragement, patience, and freedom to explore anything that interests me in geoscience, including tectonic/fluvial geomorphology, unmanned aerial system/multi-special remote sensing, and numerical modeling. I thank my other members of my committee, Drs. Estella Atekwana, Daniel Lao Davila, Amy Frazier, and Javier Vilcaez Perez for their guidance in this work, as well as for their help and suggestion on my academic career. Their writing and teaching have always inspired me during my time at Oklahoma State University. The understanding, encouragement from my committee members have provided a good basis for the present dissertation. Also, I thank Dr. Nahid Gani, of Western Kentucky University for her contribution to editing and refining my three manuscripts constituting this dissertation.
    [Show full text]