Adverse Impact of Climate Change on Mambioko Community Dependent Forest and Local Perception on Vulnerabilities and Responses-Centre Region of Cameroon

Abstract

Background: Forest ecosystems have important environmental and ecological dimensions which provide livelihoods to Millions of people globally. Forest provides services that are directly link to micro and macro climate, water and soil resources, plants and animals’ diversity, food production and food securities and energy resources This study was undertaken to identify and assess climate change vulnerabilities and impacts on the livelihoods of forest dependent communities in Mambioko community forest in the Centre Region of Cameroon. Methods: Primary data was collected from 120 households; key informants, focus group discussions and was supplemented with secondary data from desk review of relevant literature. Results: Forest resources were generally perceived by forest dependent communities as declining. Climate Change was observed to have impacted on their major livelihood’s activities/resources of forest dependent communities by way of prolonged drought, erratic rainfall pattern, and variability in rainfall intensity. These trends have consequently led to drying of rivers and streams, shift in cropping season, reduced yield, frequent and extreme warm conditions among others. The use of irrigation, crop diversification, household income diversification through alternative livelihood activities and increase in size of cultivated farms are among the different measures being adopted by communities to cope up with the effects of climate change. Using socio-economic indicators, the bimodal agro ecological zone is vulnerable to climate change impact. The zone has relatively higher dependency on climate sensitive livelihood activities/resources, limited diversified income sources and moderate access to climate change information. Conclusions: This study conclude that in an attempt to help forest dependent communities cope up with climate change impacts, fundamental issues such as non-climate dependent alternative livelihood activities, access to climate, sustainable agricultural practices and sustainable forest resources management are key areas for various multidisciplinary intervention.