Assessment on Social Vulnerability and Response Towards Natural Disaster in A Disaster-Prone Coastal Village: An Example from Bangladesh

Due to geographical locations, the Southwestern coastal region of Bangladesh is frequently experiencing climate change induced disasters such as cyclones, floods, and tidal surges. However, local communities at this region have a long history of coping with the adverse effects of these disasters. Consequently, this research assessed the social vulnerability towards natural disasters through local peoples’ perception and identified the existing immediate response against natural disasters at Kazirchar village in Muladi Upazila of Barishal district of the coastal region. In this study, a well-structured questionnaire survey, and focus group discussions were conducted to collect primary data. The collected data were processed and analysed to present the existing impacts of natural disasters. Besides, the immediate responses were categorized into different sectors. The study found that, the most prevalent coastal disaster in Kazirchar village was cyclone. About 48% of surveyed respondents opined that high cost of living was the main reason for increasing the vulnerability towards disasters. To adapt with disaster impacts, 58% respondents of this village need to travel long distances to collect drinking water. On the other hand, during flood, 26% people took shelter on government-owned high lands, whereas 40% shifted temporarily to their neighbors who are living in house with a high land elevation. This research concludes that the village has a low prior preparedness against various disasters, less knowledge about disaster, less coordination and poor collaboration between government organization (GOs) and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) regarding disaster risk reduction. It is expected that this study will act as a source of information for taking natural disaster management initiatives and the findings of this study will push the policy makers to develop and implement long term adaptation strategies in coastal areas of Bangladesh particularly in Barishal district

Integrated water resources management and flood risk management: Opportunities and challenges in developing countries

Flood events and flood-related impacts have been increasing across the globe; in particular, riparian communities in developing countries are the worst sufferers due to insufficient preparedness. Conventional flood risk management (FRM) measures are usually structural measures, and they have limited potential to reduce impacts, whereas integrated water resources management (IWRM) is a multi-dimensional and holistic approach for FRM. It deals with enhancing the adaptive capacity of a community, and it recommends a variety of social, economic, technical, knowledge-related, institutional, and cultural measures. This chapter reviews the status and journey of adoption of IWRM for FRM in countries across the world such as the United States, European Union, India, Bangladesh, and representative African countries. Based on the review, it can be observed that IWRM has been accepted and adopted by countries across the globe for FRM. However, due to diverse levels of financial capability, technical skill sets, governance structure, cross-sectoral engagements, and stakeholder participation, the countries are at diverse levels of IWRM adoption

The Riparian Tree Species Composition and Diversity of the Midstream of Halda River in Chittagong, Bangladesh

Riparian vegetation has been depleting in the many river basins of Bangladesh. Consequently, this study assessed the tree species composition, structure and diversity of the midstream area of the Halda River in Bangladesh. Twenty two quadrats (20 × 20m in size) were sampled. A total of 414 individual tree stems of ≥10 cm DBH of 36 tree species belonging to 31 genera and 15 families were enumerated. Density, Basal area and volume of the tree species were measured. Different diversity indices, i.e. Shannon-Wienners Diversity Index, Simpson's Dominance Index, Pielou’s Species Evenness Index, Margalef's and Menhinick’s richness index were calculated. Fabaceae was the most represented family with nine species, followed by Moraceae, Meliaceae and Anacardiaceae. Density, basal area and volume of the trees were 470.45 stem/ha, 19.09m²/ha and 139.42m³/ha, respectively. Samanea saman was found to be dominant, showing a maximum IVI, followed by v, Mangifer aindica, Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Artocarpus heterophyllus. The findings of the study will be helpful for the posterior researchers in their research work and their future tree based planning programs and conservation. So it is recommended that greater emphasis should be taken to proper management and conservation against over extraction and illegal felling for the maintenance of existing tree species composition and density

Community Mangrove Aqua-Silviculture (CMAS Culture): An Innovation and Climate Resilient Practice by the Sundarbans Mangrove Forest Dependent Rural Communities of Bangladesh

To adapt to the emergent global climate impacts, the local communities of Khulna, Satkhira and Bagerhat districts in South-Western Bangladesh have spontaneously promoted a number of social innovation using their innovative ideas and traditional knowledge. The present study highlights on this practice called as Community Mangrove Aqua-Silvi-Culture (CMAS) to cultivate some floral and faunal species of the Sundarbans mangrove ecosystem. CMAS is a plot of swampy land with 1 to 1.5 feet deep water bordered by a dyke of 0.5 to1.5 feet height from the water level. The mangrove plant species in CMAS includes Goalpata (Nypa fruticans), Goran (Ceriops tagal), Keora (Sonnerata species), Hargoza (Alanthus ilicifolius), and Baen (Avicennia Species). Besides, there is a canal of about 2-2.5 feet depth that runs along the farm dykes where fish (Telapia, Vetki, Amadi, Tengra, Carps), shrimp (Bagda) and crabs are cultured. For in depth analysis of CMAS, face-to-face interview was conducted in 18 CMAS farms to know about the cultivation method, cost-benefit aspects, environmental and social impact of this unique culture. The farm owners opined that after 13 to 14 months of plantation, which is the shortest in comparison with traditional practice, Golpata and Goran can be harvested usually in January to February. On the other hand, farming seasonality of fish and shrimps varies species to species. However, most of the fish species can be harvested in between May to June in each year. Interestingly, CMAS culture doesn’t need much care and maintenance costs. It is expected that the detailed analysis of CMAS will help the Sundarbans depended local communities more climate resilient

Role of Government and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in Cyclone Recovery in Bangladesh

Immediate relief distribution activities are primarily focused on after a cyclonic event in Bangladesh, where proper long-term recovery and rehabilitation efforts are not strategized with much significance. This study concentrated on understanding and assessing the status and effectiveness of the post-cyclone recovery programmes to improve the lives of cyclone-affected households in southwestern Bangladesh. This study aims to examine the status and efficiency of Government and Non-government organisations (NGO) led cyclone recovery programmes for cyclone SIDR and cyclone AILA and identify the challenges that hindered the successful implementation of effective recovery programmes. The study reviewed existing literature on cyclone recovery in Bangladesh, including government and NGO reports, and conducted focus group discussions on cyclone-affected Dacope Upazila of Khulna. The finding indicates that the cyclone-affected community in southwestern Bangladesh has not recovered satisfactorily across all sectors and timescales from cyclone damages and continues to live in vulnerable conditions even after a decade of cyclonic events. The adopted recovery measures were not efficient and effective in returning to the everyday lifestyle of the affected people. Planned and coordinated recovery efforts should be executed with proper monitoring to ensure the effectiveness of post-cyclone recovery programmes

Sea level rise induced impacts on coastal areas of Bangladesh and local-led community-based adaptation

Bangladesh is as a low-lying country, susceptible to various Sea Level Rise (SLR) induced impacts. Previous studies have separately explored SLR effects on Bangladesh’s coastal ecosystems and livelihoods, across multiple spatial and temporal scales. However, empirical studies acknowl- edging local population’s perceptions on the causal factors to different SLR induced physio- graphic impacts, their effects at societal scale and ongoing adaptation to these impacts of SLR have not been able to establish a causal-linkage relationship between these impacts and their potential effects. Our study explores how SLR has already impacted the lives and livelihoods of coastal communities in Bangladesh and how these have been responded by adopting different adaptative measures. We applied a qualitative community-based multistage sampling procedure, using two Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) tools, namely Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and Community Meetings (CM), to collect empirical data about SLR effects on livelihoods and implemented adaptation responses. Our study found that both man-made and natural causes are responsible for different physiographic impacts of SLR, and which seem to vary between place and context. Five major SLR induced impacts were identified by coastal communities, namely: salinity increase, rising water levels, land erosion, waterlogging and the emergence of char land. Salinity increase and land erosion are the two most severe impacts of SLR resulting in the largest economic losses to agriculture. Our results highlight how coastal communities in Bangladesh perceive the impacts of SLR and the benefits of different adaptation processes set in motion to protect them, via development projects and other local interventions.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio