The Danakil Depression, located in northeastern Ethiopia, is one of the most uninhabitable regions in the world due to its above-sea level, extreme temperatures exceeding 35 degrees Celsius, and high salt topography. However, despite this extreme natural environment, the Afar have been settled for a long time, and they have taken root in the region through unique survival strategies and cultural adaptations. The Afar's main source of livelihood is to transport salt from the Danakil lowlands to the outside areas by camel caravans and sell it. They mine salt by hand using traditional tools, and then cut it into blocks and transport it. In addition to this, they lead a nomadic lifestyle, and livestock function as a key means of exchange economy as well as food resources.
"How are climate change and outside industry interventions in the Danakil lowlands affecting the traditional way of living and culture of the Afar, and how are they responding to change?“
Recently, the weather in Seoul is a time when you can feel the spirit of spring, and the temperature is gradually getting warmer. However, climate change is making weather more volatile, making it difficult to predict.
Climate change is a global problem and has a major impact on marine ecosystems. For example, in the Saemangeum tidal flats in the West Sea of South Korea, the population of clams and lilies is decreasing due to rising water temperatures and environmental pollution.
To solve this problem, the Korean government has introduced the concept of the 'Marine Ecological Axis', which manages the marine ecosystem in an integrated way. This is a policy that connects the main habitats and migration routes of marine life to promote ecosystem connectivity and restoration.
I think there will be policies in Ethiopia to respond to climate change and environmental issues. Ethiopia has an economy that is primarily dependent on agriculture, so drought and reduced agricultural productivity due to climate change can be a major problem. What environmental policies or measures are you implementing to address these issues?
