Intersectionality and Women’s Perceptions of Climate Change and Adaptation Among NTFP-Dependent Households in Limpopo Province, South Africa

Abstract

Abstract Climate change-induced weather variability, particularly changes in temperature and rainfall patterns, poses significant challenges to agroforestry systems and rural livelihoods in the tropics. Understanding how female-headed households perceive and respond to these changes is important for assessing vulnerability and designing effective adaptation strategies. However, limited empirical evidence exists on climate change perceptions and adaptation among non-timber forest product (NTFP)-dependent female-headed households in South Africa, particularly using gender-sensitive and selection-corrected analytical approaches. This study analyses climate change perceptions and adaptation strategies among 240 randomly selected NTFP-dependent female-headed households in Limpopo Province, South Africa. Guided by a gender-sensitive and intersectional perspective, the study examines how socio-economic, institutional, and livelihood-related factors shape climate perceptions and adaptation responses. A Heckman selection model was employed to account for potential sample selection bias between climate change perception and adaptation decisions. The results show that educational status, household size, NTFP collection experience, access to credit, and exposure to extreme weather events are significantly associated with climate change perceptions. Adaptation responses are significantly influenced by education, household size, NTFP collection experience, market distance, access to credit, non-NTFP income, climate information, and forestry extension services. The findings underscore the importance of context-specific and gender-responsive interventions aimed at strengthening the adaptive capacity and resilience of NTFP-dependent female-headed households in rural South Africa.