Rural households' perceptions and willingness to participate in the socio-economic benefits of non-timber forest products in the face of climate change : a case study of Bushbuckridge Local Municipality, Mpumalanga Province

Abstract

Forests, as critical ecosystems, have played an important role in both reducing climate change and promoting sustainable development. However, anthropogenic activities such as deforestation, industrial operations, and fossil-fuel burning have had a considerable impact on these natural dynamics. These disturbances have changed the distribution and availability of the Non-Timber Forest Products(NTFPs). In view of that, this study attempts to fill the gap that says less about the impact of climate change on the NTFPs and the dependent rural communities. The main aim of the study was to assess the perceptions of rural households and their willingness to participate in the socio-economic benefits of NTFPs in the face of climate change. The specific objectives were to profile the socio-economic characteristics of rural households, assess their level perceptions towards the socio-economic benefits of NTFPs in the face of climate change, and analyse the socio-economic factors influencing their willingness to participate in the socio-economic benefits of NTFPs in the face of climate change. Hence, despite numerous studies documenting the impacts of climate change on the NTFPs and the adaptation strategies of rural households, little is known about the value that rural households place on these resources and how they perceive their role in sustaining their livelihoods. This study aimed to fill this gap by giving a thorough analysis of these elements. Data collection employed a simple random sample technique to select 110 rural households in three villages in Bushbuckridge Local Municipality, namely Mpenyatsatsi, Marite and Masana. Based on structured questionnaires comprehensive data were collected. Descriptive statistics were employed to profile the socioeconomic features of the households, with 57% predominance being female-led households and a high unemployment rate at 56%. On average, respondents' age was about 51 years old. To measure perceptions on the 5-point Likert scale, the study used the Chi-square test, which indicates that the majority (87%) of households recognised that NTFPs provide benefits in socio-economic terms, especially with regards to generating income. Moreover, 69% of households agreed with the statement that in recent decades, the climate has changed markedly enough to affect both NTFPs availability and quantity. The binary regression model was employed to successfully address the third objective of the study, which was to analyse the socio-economic factors influencing rural households’ willingness to participate in the socio-economic benefits of non-timber forest products in the face of climate change in Bushbuckridge Local Municipality. In this study, willingness to participate is defined as a state that determines whether an individual will take action in deriving the benefits offered by NTFPs, such as generating income, for consumption and used as a safety net during times of hardship. The results indicated that majority (67%) of the sampled rural households reported that they were willing to participate in the socio-economic benefits of NTFPs in the face of climate change. In comparison, minority (33%) of the sampled rural households indicated that they were unwilling to participate. The study revealed that socio-economic factors that were found to be significant in influencing households' willingness to participate include age, educational level, market access, experience, awareness, rainfall perception, household size, and employment status. The results emphasise the necessity of increasing the level of awareness about NTFPs and the ways to manage and benefit from them in rural communities. The issue of market access and the overall improvement of its infrastructure, as well as the training and educating in new marketing methods, remains decisive for the enhancement of the community’s involvement in NTFPs-related work. Additionally, the development of strategies that will help enhance the level of climate resilience seems to be a must, with their focus on the utilisation of technologies of adaptation and sustainable practices in order to address the climate affecting the target region. Furthermore, the policy and educational implications of the results may be summarised as the introduction of educational campaigns in order to promote an increased level of awareness and education of the rural populations, the focus on the improvement of the market infrastructure, and the development of strategies aimed at their adaptation to the existing climate conditions. By addressing these areas, the potential of NTFPs for enhancing the living standards of rural populations and preserving biodiversity will remain high, and the economic development of rural communities may be supported in the context of existing climate alterations.