Assessing the feasibility of the socioeconomic benefits of Colophospermum mopane under climate change in north-central Namibia
The result's identifiers
Result code in IS VaVaI
<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F60460709%3A41320%2F25%3A103692" target="_blank" >RIV/60460709:41320/25:103692 - isvavai.cz</a>
Result on the web
<a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/forests-and-global-change/articles/10.3389/ffgc.2025.1610409/full" target="_blank" >https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/forests-and-global-change/articles/10.3389/ffgc.2025.1610409/full</a>
DOI - Digital Object Identifier
<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/ffgc.2025.1610409" target="_blank" >10.3389/ffgc.2025.1610409</a>
Alternative languages
Result language
angličtina
Original language name
Assessing the feasibility of the socioeconomic benefits of Colophospermum mopane under climate change in north-central Namibia
Original language description
Colophospermum mopane (C. mopane) is a drought-tolerant deciduous tree that provides essential ecosystem services for local communities. Despite its socioeconomic importance, the feasibility of these benefits under changing climatic conditions remains understudied, particularly in sparsely forested regions such as north-central Namibia. In this study, we assess the feasibility of C. mopane's socioeconomic contributions in Namibia's Kunene and Omusati regions by focusing on subsistence and commercial use. Using a semi-structured questionnaire, we collected data from local communities at four Forestry offices: Outapi, Tsandi, Opuwo, and Okahao-yielding 117 responses. We employed descriptive statistics to analyse data using IBM SPSS combined with Microsoft Excel. The results revealed that firewood was the most common product of C. mopane, primarily harvested for subsistence purposes. The products were mainly harvested from crop fields. Household income from C. mopane products ranged from <1,000 to 5,000 Namibian Dollars (NAD) per sale, with peak earnings recorded in 2019 and 2020. Key climate-related challenges affecting these benefits included floods, thunderstorms, and erratic rainfall. Respondents highlighted the need for improved wood-processing skills, better market access, and financial support to enhance the sustainability of C. mopane-based livelihoods. We recommend targeted climate adaptation strategies such as agroforestry, tree planting projects, drought-resistant crops, and community education on sustainable resource use and promoting alternative energy sources such as solar power for cooking and heating. Future studies should evaluate the effectiveness of climate adaptation and mitigation strategies in managing mopane woodlands for long-term socioeconomic resilience.
Czech name
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Czech description
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Classification
Type
J<sub>imp</sub> - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database
CEP classification
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OECD FORD branch
40102 - Forestry
Result continuities
Project
<a href="/en/project/EF16_019%2F0000803" target="_blank" >EF16_019/0000803: Advanced research supporting the forestry and wood-processing sector´s adaptation to global change and the 4th industrial revolution</a><br>
Continuities
P - Projekt vyzkumu a vyvoje financovany z verejnych zdroju (s odkazem do CEP)
Others
Publication year
2025
Confidentiality
S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů
Data specific for result type
Name of the periodical
FRONTIERS IN FORESTS AND GLOBAL CHANGE
ISSN
2624-893X
e-ISSN
2624-893X
Volume of the periodical
8
Issue of the periodical within the volume
2025
Country of publishing house
CH - SWITZERLAND
Number of pages
11
Pages from-to
1-11
UT code for WoS article
001586916900001
EID of the result in the Scopus database
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