Social perception of climate change and forms of use impact on the forests of Dogo-Kétou and Pobè in Benin

Abstract

This study examined the local perception on the climate changes and how these changes combined with anthropogenic pressures generated by the forms of use of the forest resources, impact the sustainability of the forests of Pobè and Dogo-Kétou in southeast Benin. The data were collected through an investigation of 148 and 139 local populations sampled respectively in the municipalities of Pobè and Kétou in the studied area. An interview guide and a structured research questionnaire were used to collect the data which were analyzed using the software Ri386 3.5.1. The mains results revealed that more than 98% of the local population living around these forests perceive the effects of climate change and anthropogenic activities are the main causes. The consequences of climate change from the social perception are diversified, such as the violent winds and the scarcity of rains. The prolonged droughts are also confirmed by 61% of local population in Kétou and 81% in Pobè. In these conditions, trees have a harder time of reproduction with a poor capacity of regeneration. The analysis of the vulnerability of these forests in relation to the use values (UV) revealed that the populations living near to Dogo-Kétou forest use so much the forest resources (UV>2.5) than those of Pobè (UV<2.5). So, moderate pressure was notified on Pobè forest. The forest of Dogo-Kétou is therefore more vulnerable than the forest of Pobè from the view of the pressures linked to the categories of uses relative to food, energy wood, service wood, non-timber forest products and medicinal use. For adaptation strategies, the local population revealed the enrichment of the forests by indigenous forest species (32% in Kétou and 19% in Pobè), the reforestation (76% in Kétou and 84% in Pobè) and the creation of private plantations (39% in Kétou and 57% in Pobè). However, the establishment of ethnobotanical family gardens, the reduction of wood consumption for energy to the detriment of domestic gas, sensitization, prayer (church and vodoun) are ways to better adapt a good resilience to climate change.

Keywords: Climate change, adaptation strategies, reforestation, resilience, forests, Benin.