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Melting Nzururu: glacier-related loss and damage in Uganda's Rwenzori Mountains. A Plural Values approach to loss and damage and implications for transformative governance

Baum, Julian LU (2026) In Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science MESM02 20261
LUCSUS (Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies)
Abstract
Glacier retreat has cascading effects for mountain communities whose livelihoods and cultural- cosmological beliefs are deeply intertwined with glacier-fed ecosystems. Loss and damage research and governance overly emphasize economic framings rendering intangible losses invisible. This thesis adopts a Plural Values approach to surface lived experiences of glacier-related loss and damage in the Ugandan Rwenzori Mountains. Drawing on semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions, findings reveal 25 diverse relational, instrumental, and intrinsic values at risk, highlighting complex human-glacier interactions such as place-based identities or livelihood dependencies. Considerable variation across socio-economic axes underlines the... (More)
Glacier retreat has cascading effects for mountain communities whose livelihoods and cultural- cosmological beliefs are deeply intertwined with glacier-fed ecosystems. Loss and damage research and governance overly emphasize economic framings rendering intangible losses invisible. This thesis adopts a Plural Values approach to surface lived experiences of glacier-related loss and damage in the Ugandan Rwenzori Mountains. Drawing on semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions, findings reveal 25 diverse relational, instrumental, and intrinsic values at risk, highlighting complex human-glacier interactions such as place-based identities or livelihood dependencies. Considerable variation across socio-economic axes underlines the need for context-sensitive responses, which currently centre on ecosystem restoration, livelihood diversification, and cultural agency, but also reveal an overemphasis on adaptation and mismatches between community and governance perspectives. Discussing implications for transformative governance, the study concludes that responses should address structural drivers of vulnerability such as the region’s colonial legacy, centering strategies around cultural recognition and community ownership. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Baum, Julian LU
supervisor
organization
course
MESM02 20261
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Loss and Damage, Plural Values, Glacier, Rwenzori Mountains, Transformative Governance, Sustainability Science
publication/series
Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science
report number
2026:035
language
English
additional info
Funding: This work was partially supported by the Crafoord Foundation travel grant.
id
9230621
date added to LUP
2026-06-04 11:42:44
date last changed
2026-06-04 11:42:44
@misc{9230621,
  abstract     = {{Glacier retreat has cascading effects for mountain communities whose livelihoods and cultural- cosmological beliefs are deeply intertwined with glacier-fed ecosystems. Loss and damage research and governance overly emphasize economic framings rendering intangible losses invisible. This thesis adopts a Plural Values approach to surface lived experiences of glacier-related loss and damage in the Ugandan Rwenzori Mountains. Drawing on semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions, findings reveal 25 diverse relational, instrumental, and intrinsic values at risk, highlighting complex human-glacier interactions such as place-based identities or livelihood dependencies. Considerable variation across socio-economic axes underlines the need for context-sensitive responses, which currently centre on ecosystem restoration, livelihood diversification, and cultural agency, but also reveal an overemphasis on adaptation and mismatches between community and governance perspectives. Discussing implications for transformative governance, the study concludes that responses should address structural drivers of vulnerability such as the region’s colonial legacy, centering strategies around cultural recognition and community ownership.}},
  author       = {{Baum, Julian}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  series       = {{Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science}},
  title        = {{Melting Nzururu: glacier-related loss and damage in Uganda's Rwenzori Mountains. A Plural Values approach to loss and damage and implications for transformative governance}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}