In Africa, millions will suffer from climate change impacts on agriculture, water availability, ecosystem services and biodiversity. It's urgent for countries in the region to take action to reduce vulnerability and enhance local communities' capacity to adapt. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (or IUCN) has been working with three countries to do just that.

In Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia, IUCN staff members have been collaborating with national governments, local NGOs and selected communities on a pilot project, funded by the government of Finland, called the "Climate Change and Development project," or CCDP.

The project was developed with the aim of ensuring that policies and strategies lead to activities that emphasize the role of water and forests in adapting to climate change in the region.

Some projects include the reforestation of destroyed mangrove forests and irrigation systems for improved agricultural growth. IUCN staff members assist locals in plotting past major weather events to help predict future floods or droughts that would impact infrastructure, agriculture or ecosystem functions.