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The purpose of this study was to provide a better understanding of the drivers and effects
of dependency on forest resources in Masida community forest in Zambezi region,
Namibia. Specifically, the study assessed the livelihood strategies and contribution of
forest resources to household incomes, assessed socio-economic determinants of
households‟ dependency, determined extent and consequences of dependency and
examined the people‟s perception on forest dependency. A cross-sectional study was
conducted from December 2018 to April 2019. For primary data collection, a semi-
structured questionnaire was administered to 185 randomly selected household heads for
quantitative data, while qualitative data was collected using key informants‟ interviews
and focus group discussion. Secondary data was obtained from office permit system.
Multiple response analysis was used to summarise livelihood strategies and reasons for
household dependence. Multiple comparisons using ANOVA analysed the contributions
of various income sources to household income. Logistic regression model was used to
determine the effect of household‟s socio-economic characteristics on forest dependence.
Descriptive statistics were used to summarise the extent and consequences of dependency,
while people‟s perceptions were assessed using the Likert scale. The study revealed that
farming, piecework and social grants are the livelihood strategies and the forest‟s natural
ablution function, provision of free medicine, easy access of forest, cheap acquisition of
forest resources, inability to pay for other alternatives and unemployment were motives
influencing household forest dependency. The household socio-economic characteristics
such as Age, Education of respondents and Hectares of land owned significantly
influences forest dependency (P<0.05). Moreover, the study showed that species such as
Colophospermum mopane, Terminalia sericea and Dichrostachys cinerea are endangered.
In conclusion, the study revealed that local people‟s perceptions forms a basis for
monitoring the sustainability of forest resources. Lastly, the study recommends that agroforestry, brickmaking and apiculture are appropriate alternatives to lessen reliance on
forest. |
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