Abstract:
Forests are vulnerable to climate change and are also major sources of livelihood for many
rural households in Africa. This study examines rural people’s perceptions of climate change
impacts on forest-based livelihoods using rural communities of Vhembe District in South
Africa as a case study. The study was based on the principles of perceived impact-based
assessment, and sustainable livelihoods framework. Using the stratified proportionate random
sampling procedure in combination with weighted Enumeration Area for the selected
communities, 366 households were chosen and interviewed. Data analysis involved computing
frequencies and conducting the Chi-square, binomial tests and binary logistic regression
analysis. The respondents identified erratic rainfall, extreme temperature, extreme drought
and flooding as key climatic events in their community. But not all identified key climatic
events were perceived to constitute risk to forest products and forest-based livelihood. Only
extreme drought was indicated to constitute risk to availability of forest products. In addition,
the binary logistic regression showed a significant difference (p < 0.05) in the perceived risk of
climate change to the availability of essential forest products across the three municipalities.
Hence the need for forest development initiatives that target vulnerable forest products per
community as a means of enhancing resilience of forest-based livelihood to climate change
impacts in rural community development in South Africa.
