Perceived Effects of Climate Change and Extreme Weather Events on Forests and Forest-Based Livelihoods in Malawi

The emerging risks and impacts of climate change and extreme weather events on forest ecosystems present significant threats to forest-based livelihoods. Understanding climate change and its consequences on forests and the livelihoods of forest-dependent communities could support forest-based strate...

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Autores principales:	Harold L. W. Chisale, Paxie W. Chirwa, Folaranmi D. Babalola, Samuel O. M. Manda
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	MDPI AG 2021
Materias:	forest dependent communities essential forest products sensitivity binary regression model forest-based livelihoods climate change Environmental effects of industries and plants TD194-195 Renewable energy sources TJ807-830 Environmental sciences GE1-350
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/daaa1073204246b7bc1489e806570cda
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:daaa1073204246b7bc1489e806570cda2021-11-11T19:28:00ZPerceived Effects of Climate Change and Extreme Weather Events on Forests and Forest-Based Livelihoods in Malawi10.3390/su1321117482071-1050https://doaj.org/article/daaa1073204246b7bc1489e806570cda2021-10-01T00:00:00Zhttps://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/21/11748https://doaj.org/toc/2071-1050The emerging risks and impacts of climate change and extreme weather events on forest ecosystems present significant threats to forest-based livelihoods. Understanding climate change and its consequences on forests and the livelihoods of forest-dependent communities could support forest-based strategies for responding to climate change. Using perception-based assessment principles, we assessed the effects of climate change and extreme weather events on forests and forest-based livelihood among the forest-dependent communities around the Mchinji and Phirilongwe Forest Reserves in the Mchinji and Mangochi districts in Malawi. Content analysis was used to analyze qualitative data. The impact of erratic rainfall, high temperatures, strong winds, flooding, and droughts was investigated using logistic regression models. The respondents perceived increasing erratic rainfall, high temperatures, strong winds, flooding, and droughts as key extreme climate events in their locality. These results varied significantly between the study sites (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Erratic rainfall was perceived to pose extended effects on access to the forest in both Phirilongwe in Mangochi (43%) and Mchinji (61%). Climate change was found to be associated with reduced availability of firewood, thatch grasses, fruits and food, vegetables, mushrooms, and medicinal plants (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Erratic rainfall and high temperatures were more likely perceived to cause reduced availability of essential forest products, and increased flooding and strong winds were less likely attributed to any effect on forest product availability. The study concludes that climate change and extreme weather events can affect the access and availability of forest products for livelihoods. Locally based approaches such as forest products domestication are recommended to address threats to climate-sensitive forest-based livelihoods.Harold L. W. ChisalePaxie W. ChirwaFolaranmi D. BabalolaSamuel O. M. MandaMDPI AGarticleforest dependent communitiesessential forest productssensitivitybinary regression modelforest-based livelihoodsclimate changeEnvironmental effects of industries and plantsTD194-195Renewable energy sourcesTJ807-830Environmental sciencesGE1-350ENSustainability, Vol 13, Iss 11748, p 11748 (2021)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	forest dependent communities essential forest products sensitivity binary regression model forest-based livelihoods climate change Environmental effects of industries and plants TD194-195 Renewable energy sources TJ807-830 Environmental sciences GE1-350
spellingShingle	forest dependent communities essential forest products sensitivity binary regression model forest-based livelihoods climate change Environmental effects of industries and plants TD194-195 Renewable energy sources TJ807-830 Environmental sciences GE1-350 Harold L. W. Chisale Paxie W. Chirwa Folaranmi D. Babalola Samuel O. M. Manda Perceived Effects of Climate Change and Extreme Weather Events on Forests and Forest-Based Livelihoods in Malawi
description	The emerging risks and impacts of climate change and extreme weather events on forest ecosystems present significant threats to forest-based livelihoods. Understanding climate change and its consequences on forests and the livelihoods of forest-dependent communities could support forest-based strategies for responding to climate change. Using perception-based assessment principles, we assessed the effects of climate change and extreme weather events on forests and forest-based livelihood among the forest-dependent communities around the Mchinji and Phirilongwe Forest Reserves in the Mchinji and Mangochi districts in Malawi. Content analysis was used to analyze qualitative data. The impact of erratic rainfall, high temperatures, strong winds, flooding, and droughts was investigated using logistic regression models. The respondents perceived increasing erratic rainfall, high temperatures, strong winds, flooding, and droughts as key extreme climate events in their locality. These results varied significantly between the study sites (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Erratic rainfall was perceived to pose extended effects on access to the forest in both Phirilongwe in Mangochi (43%) and Mchinji (61%). Climate change was found to be associated with reduced availability of firewood, thatch grasses, fruits and food, vegetables, mushrooms, and medicinal plants (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Erratic rainfall and high temperatures were more likely perceived to cause reduced availability of essential forest products, and increased flooding and strong winds were less likely attributed to any effect on forest product availability. The study concludes that climate change and extreme weather events can affect the access and availability of forest products for livelihoods. Locally based approaches such as forest products domestication are recommended to address threats to climate-sensitive forest-based livelihoods.
format	article
author	Harold L. W. Chisale Paxie W. Chirwa Folaranmi D. Babalola Samuel O. M. Manda
author_facet	Harold L. W. Chisale Paxie W. Chirwa Folaranmi D. Babalola Samuel O. M. Manda
author_sort	Harold L. W. Chisale
title	Perceived Effects of Climate Change and Extreme Weather Events on Forests and Forest-Based Livelihoods in Malawi
title_short	Perceived Effects of Climate Change and Extreme Weather Events on Forests and Forest-Based Livelihoods in Malawi
title_full	Perceived Effects of Climate Change and Extreme Weather Events on Forests and Forest-Based Livelihoods in Malawi
title_fullStr	Perceived Effects of Climate Change and Extreme Weather Events on Forests and Forest-Based Livelihoods in Malawi
title_full_unstemmed	Perceived Effects of Climate Change and Extreme Weather Events on Forests and Forest-Based Livelihoods in Malawi
title_sort	perceived effects of climate change and extreme weather events on forests and forest-based livelihoods in malawi
publisher	MDPI AG
publishDate	2021
url	https://doaj.org/article/daaa1073204246b7bc1489e806570cda
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Perceived Effects of Climate Change and Extreme Weather Events on Forests and Forest-Based Livelihoods in Malawi

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