Determinants of adaptive capacities and coping strategies to climate change related extreme events by forest dependent communities in Malawi
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Date
Authors
Chisale, Harold L.W.
Chirwa, Paxie W.
Kamoto, Judith Francesca Mangani
Babalola, Folaranmi Dapo
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Elsevier
Abstract
Climate change related extreme events present significant threats against the sustainability of forest-based livelihoods. Adaptive capacities and coping strategies of forest residents in Malawi towards climate change and extreme weather events were analyzed. Purposive sampling was used to select key informants while random sampling was employed to sample household heads or older member of the household (n = 422) involved in the household survey. Questionnaire administration, interviews and focus group discussions were used to collect the primary data. Cross tabulation of frequencies, Pearson Chi-square tests, and Binary logistic regression tests were used for the data analysis. Results showed that forest residents have always employed different adaptation and coping strategies during different climate extreme events over the years. Winter cropping (Dimba) around streams and wells, scored 66 % in Mchinji whilst the shifting of crop planting periods to coincide with rainy seasons topped the list in Mangochi (55 %) against droughts and erratic rainfall, respectively. Household satisfaction with water supply facilities and communication services dictated the respondents’ choice of the coping strategies employed. Furthermore, household human capital enhanced the adaptive capacity of forest residents. In conclusion, institutional services, social networks and human capital resources are important in devising climate coping and adaptation strategies hence recommending for more sustainable and transformative adaptation and coping strategies that can withstand projected climate change and weather-related events.
Description
Keywords
Sustainable livelihood assessments (SLA), Adaptive capacity, Adaptation strategies, Coping strategies, Extreme weather events, Climate change related, Forest dependent residents, Determinants, SDG-10: Reduced inequalities, Sustainable development goals (SDGs), SDG-15: Life on land, Malawi
Sustainable Development Goals
SDG-10:Reduces inequalities
SDG-15:Life on land
SDG-15:Life on land
Citation
Chisale, H.L.W., Chirwa, P.W., Kamoto, J.F.M. & Babalola, F.D. 2024, 'Determinants of adaptive capacities and coping strategies to clima', Wellbeing, Space and Society, vol. 6, art. 100183, pp. 1-13, doi : 10.1016/j.wss.2024.100183.