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Climate Change in Sub-Saharan Africa: A menace to Agricultural productivity and Ecological protection
IBE, GO & AMIKUZUNO, J
Abstract
Due to inadequate adaptation capacity, Sub-Saharan Africa has been depicted as the most vulnerable
region with regards to global climate change, this is because of its reliance on agricultural activities for sustenance to
livelihood which is highly sensitive to climate variables such as temperature variation, rainfall intensity, humidity patterns,
and other extreme weather events. This paper reviews how climate change constitutes a menace to agricultural productivity
and ecological protection using a qualitative approach. And importantly suggests ways to overcome such problems.
Relevant literature was gathered from secondary data through articles, reports, journals from scientific publications, online
websites and Conference Papers. From the review, it is revealed that climate change in Africa has a very significant effect
on average temperature, rainfall patterns, and extreme weather events. It was also reviewed that climate has a negative
effect on agricultural production and the ecological niche in Sub-Saharan Africa. Evidently, due to past and present climate
change; agricultural land, growing season and yield as well as, ecological degradation will cause a decline to sustainable
development in Sub-Saharan Africa, which is the center of this problem. Climate change adversely affects biodiversity
protection through aggravated weather conditions, increased temperature, increased land salinity, excessive rainfall,
storms, hurricanes and tornadoes which climax in ecosystem ruin. This review has clearly confirmed that Sub-Saharan
Africa is indeed the most vulnerable region to climate change. To this end, policies aimed at promoting farm level
adaptation strategies and mitigation of climate change with regards to ecological protection are highly recommended.
Keywords
Climate change; Ecological protection; Sub-Saharan Africa; Sustainable development.
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