An overview of proven Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment tools for forests and forest-dependent communities across the globe: a literature analysis

Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment (VA) tools for forest ecosystems and forest-dependent communities are important for making decisions and understanding the impact of climate change on both social and natural systems. However, the tools are poorly coordinated, making it difficult for policymakers to carry out VAs properly. The aim of this study was to analyze VA literature worldwide to find representative case studies in terms of methods and tools applied and which have been successful in performing VAs on forests and forest-dependent communities. All successful VA studies analyzed had common characteristics such as significant funding, data availability and technical capacity. An additional characteristic was the development of an integrated approach that considered the vulnerability of both ecosystems and communities by combining qualitative and quantitative methods. Community members and relevant stakeholders were significantly involved in a participatory process that concluded with the identification of adaptation measures. The case studies also revealed how policymakers need to choose suitable methods and tools to undertake efficient assessment of vulnerabilities. They need to consider several aspects of the VA process such as subject matter, availability of resources, time and scale.