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Researchers see a positive side to climate change

16 August 2010

Local and international researchers, and environmental experts are now predicting a positive side to climate change, apart from the devastating consequences caused by it on humanity.

The IRA director, Prof Pius Yanda, a renowned environmental research professor, said findings showing that snow on top of Mount Kilimanjaro was melting fast due to global warming could be a blessing in disguise.

“œTens of hundreds of tourists and researchers who want to believe by seeing with their naked eyes will climb to the top of the mountain to observe the disappearance of the snow,” he said.

Prof Jennifer Olson, a professor in the geography and communication arts department at Michigan State University in the United States, said changing temperatures in highlands would also be beneficial to maize growers.

“œWarmer temperatures in highlands will raise maize yields, and lower tea and coffee yields,” she said.

Maasai pastoral communities at Loswira village in Monduli District, Arusha Region, told the journalists that a long spell of drought that was experienced in their area in 2009, which was caused by climate change, was also a blessing in disguise.

“œWhen thousands of our cattle were killed for lack of water and pasture following the drought, we bought a new breed of cattle from our colleagues in neighbouring Kenya, which is very resistant to diseases,” said Saibul Julius Ole Mariki, 46, a former village chairman.

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