How do socio-economic characteristics of communities influence resource use and forest cover in the Cryptosepalum forest of North-western Zambia

Forests are important ecosystems offering extensive material and immaterial benefits to people and the environment. If not well monitored and sustainably managed, forest resource use can lead to degradation, which has global environmental and socio-economic implications. There is currently limited information on the factors that lead to forest use in the Cryptosepalum forests of Zambia, and how these factors potentially influence forest integrity. This study aimed at establishing the socio-economic aspects that determine resource utilisation and forest loss in the Cryptosepalum forest of Manyinga and Zambezi Districts of North-western Zambia. Using a semi-structured questionnaire 207 randomly selected households were interviewed in 7 villages surrounding the Cryptosepalum forest (4 in Manyinga and 3 in Zambezi district). Additionally, three focus Group Discussions were conducted to triangulate interview data. Descriptive statistics, Pearson's Chi-square test of independence and binary logistic regression were used to analyse the data. The study established 14 forest products used by local communities in the study sites. Socio-economic factors, namely; gender, level of education, household size, wealth, and residence status significantly influenced use of 9 of the 14 forest products. Further, significant relationships (p < 0.5) were established between: (1) gender and use of construction poles, wood fibre, fruits, and honey production (2) level of education and utilisation of timber, tubers, caterpillars, mushrooms, and thatching grass; (3) household size and use of construction poles, wild vegetables, tubers, caterpillars, fruits and thatching grass; (4) wealth status and use of timber, construction poles, wild vegetables, wood fibre, and fruits; and (5) residence status and use of construction poles, tubers and thatching grass. Timber harvesting, agricultural expansion, and population increase were established as key drivers of forest cover loss in the Cryptosepalum forest. The study recommends that policies and strategies aimed at conserving this forest focus on strict law enforcement (monitoring and control) of timber harvesting activities; and provision of agricultural inputs and/or community sensitisation on conservation agriculture interventions to curb shifting cultivation practices. The study adds to the body of knowledge on the importance of forests to rural livelihoods in Sub-saharan Africa, and the influence of socio-economic factors on forest cover and resource use.