The role of trees and the dynamics of tree planting as a climate change adaptation strategy for addressing food and nutrition security challenges in KwaZulu-Natal.

Abstract

One of the major environmental problems faced by the modern world is climate change, and its impacts are rapidly escalating. Future predictions indicate that climate change will result in lower rainfall and higher temperatures with increased flooding and drought events in South Africa. Most studies report that the source of livelihood affected mainly by climate change is agriculture, especially crop productivity. Moreover, the agricultural sector is among the most significant contributors to changing climate. Globally, the sector contributes about 20% to greenhouse gas emissions. The effect of climate change on the agricultural sector, combined with the impact of agriculture on greenhouse gas emissions, requires adaptation strategies that will lessen the effects of agricultural production while mitigating climate change. Agroforestry is recognized as the most appropriate adaptation strategy to achieve these objectives due to its high potential for addressing food insecurity, climate change challenges, and ecosystem management. It is defined as a farming system that integrates trees and shrubs with agricultural crops and/or livestock, or both. Rural communities in South Africa have been planting trees, but what they deem important in trees is not well-known. Hence, identifying the different types of trees currently beneficial to them is essential for tree-planting programs to be successful. Moreover, there is insufficient empirical research on the following: the impact of fruit trees on food and nutrition security; the role and plantation of trees as a long-term and sustainable climate change adaptation strategy; and the role of knowledge, attitudes, perceptions, and extrinsic factors in the uptake of agroforestry practices among rural households. The objectives of the study were: to identify the different types of trees beneficial to rural communities and the main beneficial uses of these trees; to evaluate the potential contribution of trees towards food and nutrition security of rural communities; to investigate tree planting as a climate change adaptation strategy; and to examine the role of knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions in the uptake of agroforestry practices among rural households. The study was conducted in Swayimane, Umbumbulu, and Richmond, located in the KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa. The survey used a random sampling method to select and interview a total sample of 317 rural households from the three study locations. However, only 305 questionnaires were valid and used for analysis: Swayimane (92), Umbumbulu (103), and Richmond (110). The data were collected by trained enumerators in person using a structured and pre-tested questionnaire. In addition, focus group discussions were conducted to complement information collected during the household survey. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were employed in this study. Descriptive statistics included percentages, means, standard deviations, and standard errors. For the inferential statistics, a chi-square test, F-test, principal component analysis, binary logistic, multivariate probit, and ordered logit regression models were employed. The International Business Machines (IBM) Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 28 and STATA SE version 17 were used to analyze the survey data. Moreover, bar charts were created using Microsoft Excel 2019 to organize and summarise data. The results showed that fruit tree species such as banana, peach, and orange played a vital role in improving food, medicinal, and financial security among rural households. Other tree species, such as Melia azedarach L., were used to adapt to climate change. For example, they function as windbreaks during windy weather. Medicinal tree species were used to treat human illnesses such as toothache, fever, and earache. Therefore, this study recommends the implementation of tree-planting programs and the distribution of fast-growing tree species across rural communities to improve their livelihoods. Improved allocation of resources to tree planting and maintenance by the public and private sectors can be a sound decision based on the benefits provided by trees. Regardless of the benefits of various trees, some respondents mentioned the disservices that result from trees. The results showed that ‘attracting snakes’ and ‘littering the yard’ were the dominant disservices across most fruit trees. It is recommended that rural households involved in tree planting be educated about methods of preventing snake invasion. Planting trees was the most common adaptation strategy in the study locations. Compared to other strategies, it emerged as a long-term and sustainable strategy. The multivariate probit model results showed that access to training and climate change information, land size, and psychological capital influence the adoption of tree planting as a climate change adaptation. This indicated the importance of agricultural-related training in climate change adaptation. Raising awareness of the benefits of trees through training programs is crucial in encouraging farming rural households to adopt tree planting as an adaptive measure. Moreover, most rural households indicated a lack of access to training on climate change adaptation strategies. It is recommended that extension officers, non-governmental organizations, policymakers, and other stakeholders support local-level knowledge of climate change adaptation and turn it into effective and sustainable action. The ordered logit regression model findings showed that growing fruit trees and consuming wild fruits influenced household food insecurity and nutrition security. Households practicing fruit farming are more likely to have better access to food and consume acceptable diets. Growing fruit trees was negatively associated with household food insecurity and positively associated with nutrition security. This suggests that households practicing fruit farming are more likely to have better access to food and consume acceptable diets. To improve the plantation of fruit trees in rural households, this study recommends the dissemination of information on the benefits of fruit trees. The level of wild fruits consumption among the sampled rural households was low. This indicates a need for awareness campaigns promoting the utilization and consumption of wild fruits. Encouraging rural households to consume wild fruits may reduce food insecurity through improved dietary diversity. It may also reduce reliance on purchased food items. Knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions towards agroforestry were found to positively influence the adoption of agroforestry practices. The results showed that the likelihood of adopting agroforestry was higher among knowledgeable household heads than those without knowledge. Thus, educating rural households about trees’ economic and environmental benefits could increase tree cover in the agricultural landscape. Implementing training programs with practical demonstration is recommended to increase awareness of the benefits of agroforestry practices and encourage households to protect onfarm trees. Extension officers, climate change champions, researchers, policymakers, and other stakeholders need to join forces in public-private partnerships to collectively participate in distributing adequate knowledge on agroforestry practices and their advantages to rural households. Moreover, addressing institutional and service constraints such as access to tree saplings and agricultural equipment, financial constraints, and water availability is vital to enhance the adoption and expansion of agroforestry practices.