Suche
Mein Konto
Sustainability on Kilimanjaro: Research for a better future!
The University of Lüneburg is researching sustainable relationships between people and nature on Kilimanjaro with international partners.
Sustainability on Kilimanjaro: Research for a better future!
An ambitious research project began on Kilimanjaro that examines the complex relationship between humans and nature. Under the coordination of Senckenberg Society for Natural Research and with financial support of 7.3 million euros from the German Research Foundation (DFG), the region's social and ecological system is to be made more sustainable. The researchers hope to gain insights that could be important for the 1.2 million people who live in the area as well as for similar regions.
The overarching goal of the research is to examine the potential of organizations, projects and initiatives on Kilimanjaro. The focus here is on sustainability and justice. Scientists from 15 universities and research institutions in Germany, Switzerland and Tanzania are working together to develop a detailed overall picture of the region's natural and social components. The project entitled “The role of nature in human well-being in the social-ecological system of Kilimanjaro” began in autumn 2020.
Research methods and results
As part of the first phase of research, over 620 contextual interviews were carried out, focusing on different groups: farmers, conservationists, tour guides and tourists. An innovative method called “Photovoice” allowed participants to express their relationship with nature through photos. The results show that there are different perspectives on nature within the same social group, which was particularly evident between farmers near the national park and in the lowlands.
These findings are not only communicated in a knowledge exchange tour, but also prepared online. Impressions from lectures, posters and an exhibition have already been recorded by 160 interested people. The project is intended to lead to recommendations for action for sustainable development on site, and the results of all six sub-projects are to be summarized in a seventh sub-project, led by Berta Martín-López and other colleagues.
The need for social-ecological transformation
The urgency of changing lifestyles and economies is underlined by the acute threats of the climate and biodiversity crisis. Like that Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) emphasizes, the preservation of biological diversity is essential for human existence. The research project contributes to developing concepts for a social-ecological transformation that address the interactions between nature, society and technology.
The research will make an important contribution to the development of strategies relevant not only to the Kilimanjaro region but also to other parts of Africa and the world. Experts are calling for a rethink in politics, business and society in order to sustainably address the diverse challenges relating to nature and climate protection.
With a solid foundation of scientific data and the collaboration of numerous institutions, the project will lay the foundations for future initiatives and strategies for social-ecological transformation.