Exploring vulnerability and adaptation to climate change of communities in the forest zone of Cameroon

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dc.contributor.authorBele, Mekou Y.
dc.contributor.authorTiani, Anne M.
dc.contributor.authorSomorin, Olufunso A.
dc.contributor.authorSonwa, Denis J.
dc.date.accessioned2013-08-07T17:25:54Z
dc.date.available2013-08-07T17:25:54Z
dc.date.copyright2013
dc.date.issued2013
dc.description.abstractUnderstanding vulnerability to the impacts of global environmental change and identifying adaptation measures to cope with these impacts require localized investigations that can help find actual and exact answers to the questions about who and what are vulnerable, to what are they vulnerable, how vulnerable are they, what are the causes of their vulnerability, and what responses can lessen their vulnerability. People living in forests are highly dependent on forest goods and services, and are vulnerable to forest changes both socially and economically. In the Congo basin, climate change effects on forest ecosystems are predicted to amplify the existing pressure on food security urging expansion of current agricultural lands at the expense of forest, biodiversity loss and socioeconomic stresses. The paper aimed at exploring vulnerability and adaptation needs to climate change of local communities in the humid forest zone of Cameroon. Field work was conducted in two forest communities in Lekié and in Yokadouma in the Center and Eastern Regions of Cameroon respectively. The assessment was done using a series of approaches including a preparatory phase, fieldwork proper, and validation of the results. Results show that: (a) the adverse effects of climate conditions to which these communities are exposed are already being felt and exerting considerable stress on most of their livelihoods resources; (b) drought, changing seasons, erratic rain patterns, heavy rainfall and strong winds are among the main climaterelated disturbances perceived by populations in the project sites; (c) important social, ecological and economic processes over the past decades seemed to have shaped current vulnerability in the sites; (d) Some coping and adaptive strategies used so far are outdated; and specific adaptation needs are identified and suggestions for facilitating their long-term implementations provided.en
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.identifier.citationBele, M.Y., Tiani, A.M., Somorin, O.A., & Sonwa, D.J. (2013).Exploring vulnerability and adaptation to climate change of communities in the forest zone of Cameroon. Climatic Change (119), 875-889.doi:10.1007/s10584-013-0738-zen
dc.identifier.issn0165-0009
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10625/51458
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherSpringeren
dc.subjectCLIMATE CHANGEen
dc.subjectCOMMUNITIESen
dc.subjectFORESTen
dc.subjectCAMEROONen
dc.subjectADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGEen
dc.subjectCONGO BASIN FORESTen
dc.titleExploring vulnerability and adaptation to climate change of communities in the forest zone of Cameroonen
dc.typeJournal Article (peer-reviewed)en
idrc.copyright.holderSpringer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
idrc.dspace.accessIDRC Onlyen
idrc.noaccessDue to copyright restrictions the full text of this research output is not available in the IDRC Digital Library or by request from the IDRC Library. / Compte tenu des restrictions relatives au droit d'auteur, le texte intégral de cet extrant de recherche n'est pas accessible dans la Bibliothèque numérique du CRDI, et il n'est pas possible d'en faire la demande à la Bibliothéque du CRDI.en
idrc.project.number104835
idrc.project.titleAltering the Climate of Poverty under Climate Change : the Forests of Congo Basin (sub-Saharan Africa)en
idrc.rims.adhocgroupIDRC SUPPORTEDen

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