Community-based Environmental Resource Management Systems for Sustainable Livelihood and Climate Change Adaptation: A Review of Best Practices in Africa

The study used secondary sources to review best practices in community-based environmental resource management systems for sustainable livelihood and climate change adaptation in Africa. The best practices were drawn from different parts of the continent. They included water, community/school gardens for food security and renewable energy projects. They demonstrated the importance of putting all knowledge systems including indigenous knowledge on an equal footing to expand the global pool of knowledge. This holistic approach of indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) is in line with the African philosophy of Ubuntu which emphasizes the symbiotic relationship between humans and other forms of life. The paper recommends the importance of interfacing knowledge systems to produce sustainable strategies and best practices for community-based environmental resource management systems.