Climate Change and Forest Ecology in Benin (West Africa): Analysis of Mitigation Strategies and Recommendations

Climate change, driven by rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and human activities such as deforestation and shifting cultivation through burning, severely degrades the forest ecosystems of Benin. Despite interventions from the government and partners regarding reforestation, sustainable management and climate-resilient agriculture, forest loss, biodiversity decline, and ecosystem disruption persist due to funding gaps, weak law enforcement, socio-economic pressures and limited community engagement. The forests of Benin are essential for biodiversity conservation, livelihoods and climate regulation. It is crucial to understand how climate variables affect forest structure and biodiversity to assess the effectiveness of current mitigation strategies is essential for designing more resilient and locally adapted policies to safeguard ecosystems and support communities. A mixed methodological approach was used. The literature review focused on climate trends, forest cover and policies. A survey was conducted with 50 experts on climate impacts, biodiversity changes and policy effectiveness. An analysis of mitigation strategies was carried out to assess reforestation, agroforestry, community management, and National Action Plans (NAPs). Field observations were also made in the forests of Lama, Wari-Maro, and N’dali, along with a document on vegetation changes, invasive species, and community perceptions. Findings show strong links between climate variability and forest degradation, biodiversity loss, and species migration. Expert surveys revealed high perceived severity of impacts but low policy effectiveness. Reforestation survival rates are poor, agroforestry uptake is uneven, and NAPs are underfunded. Field visits confirmed canopy thinning, invasive species spread and wildlife decline, with communities reporting delayed rains and reduced yields. To mitigate the effects of climate change, certain actions must be taken, such as empowering communities in forest governance, prioritizing drought-resistant native trees in reforestation, developing agroforestry and climate-smart agriculture, strengthening inter-agency coordination, improving data systems, securing sustainable funding, and implementing educational programs to raise awareness about climate and conservation.