Understanding climate change risk and vulnerability in northern forest-based communities

Abstract

Much research attention regarding climate change has been focused on the macrophysical and, to a lesser extent, the macrosocial features of this phenomenon. An important step in mitigation and adaptation will be to examine the ways that climate change risks manifest themselves in particular social localities. Certain social groups may be at greater risk, not solely because of their geographic location in a region of high climate sensitivity but also because of economic, political, and cultural characteristics. Combining the insights of economics and sociology, we provide an ideal-type model of northern forest-based communities that suggests that these communities may represent a particularized social context in regard to climate change. Although scientific research indicates that northern forest ecosystems are among those regions at greatest risk to the impacts of climate change, the social dimensions of these communities indicate both a limited community capacity and a limited potential to perceive climate change as a salient risk issue that warrants action. Five features of forest-based communities describe this context in further detail: (i) the constraints on adaptability in rural, resource-dependent communities to respond to risk in a proactive manner, (ii) the national and international identification of deforestation as a central causal mechanism in the political arena, (iii) the nature of commercial forestry investment planning and management decision-making, (iv) the potential by members of these communities to underestimate the risk associated with climate change, and (v) the multiplicity of climate change risk factors in forest-based communities.

Implications of Impacts of Climate Change on Forest Product Flows and Forest Dependent Communities in the Western Ghats, India

“…The projected impact of climate change on forests in the district is therefore likely to adversely impact the forest product flow to the forest dependent households and communities. Forest-based communities in developing countries are especially vulnerable because of limited adaptability in rural, resource-dependent communities to respond to risk in a proactive manner (Davidson et al 2003).…”

Social vulnerability and climate change: synthesis of literature

“…Because of their connection to the land and the potential for climate change to impact natural resources and disrupt ecosystems and seasons, rural livelihoods and well-being are disproportionately vulnerable to climate change (Davidson et al 2003, Liverman andMerideth 2002). Davidson et al (2003) described the increased risk climate change poses to forest-based communities in Canada because these communities share proximity and strong linkages to climate-sensitive forest environments. As a result, the values at risk for households in these forest-based communities are likely higher than for other social groupings.…”

“…Few (2006) described the social differentiation of health risks in the context of climate change, particularly during natural hazards, as a function of the coping capacity of individuals and health systems and institutions. Davidson et al (2003) stated that smoke from forest fires and potential heat waves could cause a problem for rural, forest-based communities in northern Canada. Thick smoke has led to increased chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in community elders in rural northern California (Jungwirth 2009).…”

“…Davidson et al (2003) suggested that climate change might increase the timber supply in the United States, which would decrease the need for timber exports from Canada, thus harming the forest-based economy in Canada. They pointed out that tourism in Canadian forests has the potential to increase in the summer with warmer temperatures and decrease in the winter as snow activities are compromised.…”

“…This situation will worsen with climate change. Davidson et al (2003Davidson et al ( : 2257 showed that residents of resource-dependent communities tend to be less educated and more highly specialized than other residents.…”