Perception and adaptation strategies of forest dwellers to climate variability in the tropical rainforest in eastern Cameroon: The case of the inhabitants of the Belabo-Diang Communal Forest

The design of appropriate adaptation strategies to the impacts of climate change requires a contextual study of local perceptions due to the non-homogeneity of climate in a given agro-ecological area. The research objective of the current study aims to examine the evolution of climate parameters from 1983 to 2019 linked to the perceptions of local populations and appropriate adaptation measures in the Belabo-Diang Communal Forest of Cameroon. The methodological approach includes collecting and analyze climate data from 1983 to 2019; and surveying existing local perceptions and adaptive strategies among 540 households using semi-structured questionnaires. A significant increase in temperature of about 1 °C over 36 years (1983–2019) and a non-significant decrease in precipitation (95.36 mm) over the same period were observed. Local perceptions related to climate change vary according to the sector of activity and are mainly associated with more heat in the dry season (90%), late onset of rains (84%), drought recurrence (82%), less rainfall during the year (80%), and increase in the duration of drought (80%). For 82–100% of households, according to the activity sector, no appropriate adaptation measures to climate change were applied depending on activities. The adaptation measures used by less than 0–20% of respondents, include mainly the abandonment or change of activity, and modification of the agricultural calendar. With the lack of appropriate and adequate adaptation measures by the riparian populations, this study appears necessary to inform policy-makers of the need to develop and implement more appropriate strategies to enable the riparian people living in forest area of Cameroon to better adapt to these effects of climate changes.