Climate change and variability present different challenges to the livelihoods of forest-dependent communities. This paper aims to determine climate variability/change and its effects on the livelihoods of the Buyangu community, which depends on Kakamega tropical rain forest in Kenya.,Rainfall and temperature trends were analysed using Mann–Kendall tests and Sen’s slope estimator. The effects of climate variability on the community were determined using household survey questionnaires, focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with key stakeholders.,Temperature trend analyses represent statistically significant trends for the period of 1980-2015. Results reveal a warming trend for both mean annual maximum temperatures and mean annual minimum temperatures by 0.04°C/year and 0.02°C/year, respectively. Moreover, analysis of annual precipitation (1923-2015) indicated an increase of 0.068 mm/year; however, the mean monthly rainfall showed a decreasing trend. As a result, crop production and livestock rearing are negatively affected. Although there is a high level of awareness of climate variability and its related effects on livelihoods, a majority of the Buyangu community still do not understand the influence of climate change on forests and the provision of forest products. Lack of knowledge on this subject will consequently limit adaptation responses.,This research fulfills the need to study climate variability and its effects on the livelihoods of forest-dependent communities. The study calls for all-round stakeholder participation of local and national players in formulating coherent adaptation strategies that will enhance the resilience of forest-dependent communities to a changing climate.

中文翻译：

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气候变化对依赖森林的社区生计的影响；来自肯尼亚卡卡梅加热带雨林附近的Buyangu社区的证据

气候变化和多变性对依赖森林的社区的生计提出了不同的挑战。本文旨在确定气候变化/变化及其对取决于肯尼亚Kakamega热带雨林的Buyangu社区生计的影响。使用Mann-Kendall检验和Sen斜率估算器分析了降雨和温度趋势。气候变化对社区的影响是通过家庭调查问卷，焦点小组讨论以及与主要利益相关者的深入访谈来确定的。温度趋势分析代表了1980年至2015年期间的统计显着趋势。结果显示年均最高温度和年均最低温度分别升高了0.04°C /年和0.02°C /年。此外，对年降水量（1923-2015）的分析表明，年降水量增加了0.068毫米；但是，平均月降雨量呈下降趋势。结果，对作物生产和牲畜饲养产生不利影响。尽管人们对气候变化及其对生计的影响有很高的认识，但是大多数Buyangu社区仍然不了解气候变化对森林和森林产品供应的影响。因此，对这一主题的知识匮乏将限制适应对策。本研究满足了研究气候变异及其对依赖森林的社区生计的影响的需求。