Impact of climate change on human-wildlife conflicts in East Africa

Abstract

Climate change is a phenomenon that is already happening and in some areas of Africa it is taking place at an alarming rate. Climate change is expected to cause an increase in weather-related disasters and extreme weather events, such as droughts, heat waves, floods, desertification, and vector-borne infestations. Long-term changes in climate exacerbate environmental degradation leading to loss of wildlife habitat in many vulnerable places. Furthermore, climate change will alter the location and nature of the geographical environment, and wildlife will be forced to migrate to new areas as a way of adapting or face extinction. As there are limited natural places left for wildlife to move to, this will likely bring wildlife into more densely populated human areas, and create situations of human wildlife conflict. This review looks at how climate change intensifies natural disasters, alters the functions and structure of terrestrial ecosystems thus making human wildlife conflicts inevitable in some regions with East African countries.