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COMMUNITY BASED ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE
EXPOSED COASTAL AREAS OF BANGLADESH
Mohammad Najmul Islam
Assistant Professor, Department of Geography, Environment and Urban Planning
Pabna University of Science and Technology, Pabna, Bangladesh
Email: najmul@pust.ac.bd
ABSTRACT
Climate change is one of the most serious threats to sustainable development with adverse impacts
on social, economic and ecological resources. The risks and damages from climate induced
hazards are much higher for the exposed coastal communities in Bangladesh. Generations after
generation people of the coastal areas have experienced these types of calamities and combat the
hazards with their indigenous knowledge and limited resources. Indigenous knowledge with
optimum usage of local resource based adaptation practices are very important in reducing risks
although these are often invisible to the outsiders. This research, therefore, intends to identify the
climate change adaptation skills and practices by the local communities which help to achieve
environmental balance and securing livelihoods. Considering the local context including disaster
risk and vulnerabilities of the people of the climate vulnerable exposed coastal area the study has
taken a holistic approach to reduce vulnerability as well as promote secured livelihoods of the
ultra poor and poor community. Different tools of Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) were
followed and In-depth interviews were conducted to identify the climate adaptation practices, their
performance, implementation process and future needs for up-scaling it in local context in
different sectors of life and livelihood from different climatic hazards.
Keywords: Community Based Adaptation (CBA), Climate change, Coastal areas, Bangladesh
1. INTRODUCTION
Bangladesh is vulnerable to the impacts of climate change due its geophysical location and poor
socio-economic development. Located between the Himalayas in the north and the Bay of Bengal
in the South Bangladesh faces frequent and prolonged floods coming from the North and climate
induced devastating cyclones and tidal surges from the South. Possible sea level rise may engulf
vast low lying coastal areas of Bangladesh and may dislocate millions of people from their homes
and livelihoods. The changes of temperature and rainfall regimes in Bangladesh have been
observed by a number of studies. The GoB NAPA report (MoEF, 2009) comes to the conclusion
that a number of studies consistently observed increases in temperature, with the strongest trend
being that of increased minimum temperatures during the rabi season, while temperature increases
in the kharif season were deemed to be less pronounced. Overall, the mean annual temperature has
shown a significant increase over the period of 1961-1990. The NAPA report state that there is
evidence of increased sea level rise (4.0 – 7.8 mm per year, depending on coastal location), but
cautions that some of the observed sea level rise could be due to regional tectonic subsidence.
There is also evidence of increased sea water intrusion inland. Partly this can be attributed to the
observed changes in sea level rises and higher frequency of storm surges, but some of the sea
water intrusion is also likely to be caused by a reduction in dry season river flows, particularly
from the Ganges River. The IPCC also forecasts sea level rises of between 0.18 and 0.79 m by
2070–2100, which could increase coastal flooding and saline intrusions into freshwater bodies
across a wide coastal belt. There is general consensus that Bangladesh belongs to the group of
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most vulnerable countries (UNDP, 2004), where climate change is likely to have severe impacts
on all sectors including agriculture.
Bangladesh has a large population, out of which majority are poor and economically marginal. A
great percentage of the population depend on natural resources for their livelihood, which is
depleting quickly due to socioeconomic factors, commercial interest, institutional weakness and
climate change impacts. Living with physical hazards is an everyday issue for the people of
Bangladesh because different seasons bring different kinds of uncertainties. The exposed coastal
zones are severely affected by climate change in the forms of temperature rise, erratic rainfall and
change in seasonal patterns and climatic extreme events like flood, drought, cyclones, tidal surges
and salinity intrusion are adversely affecting the poor, marginal communities and their livelihoods.
The risks and damages from climate induced hazards are much higher for the exposed coastal
communities in Bangladesh. Generations after generation people of the coastal areas have
experienced these types of calamities and combat the hazards with their indigenous knowledge
and practices. Indigenous knowledge-based adaptation practices are very important in reducing
risks although these are often invisible to outsiders. The skills and practices of local communities
to address climate change vulnerability have already got importance in Bangladesh Climate
Change Strategies & Action Plans (BCCSAP). Since climate change affects communities
differently according to their respective vulnerabilities and adaptive capacities, adaptation must be
locally specific and appropriate to the local context.
This paper aims to identify the climate change adaptation skills and practices by the local
communities which help to achieve environmental balance and securing livelihoods. Considering
the local context including disaster risk and vulnerabilities of the people of exposed south-west,
south-centre and south-east coasts in Bangladesh have taken a holistic approach to reduce
vulnerability as well as promote secured livelihoods. Individual and community based climate
adaptation are highly effective to reduce disaster vulnerabilities and enhancing capacity of poor
community for disaster preparedness as well as protection of assets from loss and damage.
2. METHODOLOGY
Participatory approach was followed to identify the community-based climate adaptation practices
in the exposed coastal areas in Bangladesh. Participation of all types of stakeholders including
ultra poor and vulnerable communities, government and non government actors were ensured to
collect comprehensive idea and qualitative information regarding the study.
2.1 Data collection
Besides initial desk study and literature review a wide range of Participatory Rural Appraisal
(PRA) tools were used, including in-depth interviews, Key Informant Interviews (KII) and focus
group discussions (FGDs). A number of multi-stakeholder community meetings were held to all
the study unions, at which stakeholders were invited to provide necessary information regarding
innovative adaptation practices. The FGDs and the community meetings have been held at a
suitable place in the village like school, community organization and youth club, where the
concerned people discussed issues in details and expressed their views freely and independently.
The participants were requested to come together a common and convenient place and facilitating
team of one facilitator and two recorders (writing and tape recorder) clearly explained purpose of
the meeting. It was also informed that participation was completely voluntary and had right to
refuse to answer questions, if they wish Participants helped to establish a respectful appreciation
for their valuable contributions to the relevant information regarding capital cost, operation and
maintenance cost, annual financial benefit, usage materials, present performance, future needs for
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up-scaling and other benefits. All participants’ had freedom and were encouraged to ask questions
at any time during the session and accordingly, consent from each of the participants was taken
using the pre-developed format. The availability of the livelihood assets and local people’s
affordability and access were noted in the seasonal livelihood calendar. Then climate change
adaptation checklist was used with indicating other benefits including financial cost & benefit and
got the consent from participants.
The study team facilitated a guided discussion in such a way so that no single person can dominate
the process and everyone gets chances to contribute in the discussion to build a shared
understanding of the issues. The participants of multi-stakeholder community meetings were UP
Representatives, village level vulnerable women, local school teachers, member of civil society,
male and female farmers, local NGO practitioners etc. The purpose of the meeting was to collect
the detail information regarding climate change adaptations, its performance and future needs for
up-scaling it in local context.
2.2 Data analysis and interpretation
Since the methodological approach was identifications, In-depth Interviews, FGDs, some other
PRA tools and KII to collect information from the local and national experts. The qualitative
analysis is a core method in analyzing data collected. However, ranking exercises, seasonal hazard
calendars and timelines generated some quantitative data, which allows for quantitative
comparisons between communities and climate vulnerable areas. All the field notes and tape
recorded information were transcribed by the researcher to ensure quality avoiding any
misinterpretation. In the analytical process main thematic areas, as per check list, were followed.
In data reduction phase, themes were identified for content analysis and coding transcripts into
sub-themes. All the data were coded manually. The interpretation of data conducted based on a
combination of coding summaries, contextual field notes, and descriptions provided by direct
quotes from participants.
3. PROFILE OF THE STUDY AREA
Bangladesh is one of the coastal marginal countries of the Bay of Bengal, and geographically
situated in a natural hazard prone area. The southernmost part of Bangladesh is bordered by about
710 km long coastal belt, where cyclone, storm surge, salinity intrusion and coastal erosion are
common. The coastal belt has been identified as typical problem area due to different climatic
disaster, complex hydro geological conditions and adverse water quality which make safe water
supply difficult. Similar to other areas in the coastal belt, Satkhira, Khulna, Bagerhat, Patuakhali
and Cox’s Bazar districts are also associated with an acute drinking water crisis. The salinity of
contour line has interpreted that Bagerhat district is more vulnerable to salinity and the unit of
salinity is 10 ppt. Cyclone surge in Bagerhat and Patuakhali districts are very high (above 1 meter
height) and this district is most vulnerable in cyclonic hazard. In this context, coastal belt,
especially the exposed areas and islands are the most climates induced hazard-prone hard-to-reach
areas in Bangladesh.
The study sites were selected on the basis of vulnerability to climate change induced disasters of
Bangladesh. Considering the multi-purpose climatic hazards, characteristics and other
vulnerabilities such as economic, geophysical and social context the study area are divided into
three different exposed coastal-zones: Mongla upazila under Bagerhat district belongs to the
exposed southwest coastal area, Sonagazi upazila under Feni district belongs to the exposed
south-center coastal area and Teknaf upazila under Cox’s Bazar district belongs to the exposed
southeast coastal area (Figure 1).
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Figure 1: Study locations in the exposed coastal areas of Bangladesh
4. CLIMATIC HAZARDS WITH SEASONALITY IN THE EXPOSED COASTAL AREA
The geographical location of the country has made the people very much dependent on the
environmental resources and vulnerable to natural disasters. Being vulnerable to climate change,
Bangladesh will experience special and seasonal differences in change of temperature in the
upcoming years. Climatic conditions of Bangladesh are influenced by a number of global and
regional scale factors. When ecosystems become more fragile and natural resources are totally lost
or are out of reach, poor communities-that depend on them for their survival-are the most affected,
particularly women, the elderly and children.
Coastal communities face multiple vulnerabilities more varied and more intensive than those faced
by most of the more inland situated communities. Major threats of people living in the coastal
zone are cyclones and storm surges, floods, drainage congestion and water logging, droughts and
salinity intrusions, erosion and deteriorating ecosystems. These uncertainties are exacerbated by
the inevitable consequences of climate change and climatic variability. Greater probability of
cyclones and storm surges, increased rainfall during the monsoon season, less precipitation in
winter, higher temperatures and sea level rise will have an adverse impact on livelihoods of people
in the coastal zone (Wilde, 2011). Beside this vulnerability of coastal settlement is an important
issue also. It has been now widely accepted that settlement in the low elevation coastal zone
(LECZ: 0-10m) will be mostly affected by the anticipated sea level change. Coasts are in fact,
already experiencing the adverse consequences of hazards related to climate and Sea Level Rise
(IPCC, 2007). During disaster women and children are in risk more than male. Due to gender
gaps, many women are less privileged and as a result they are more susceptible and therefore more
likely to be exposed to greater risk.
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Figure 2: Climate induced hazards with seasonality in the coastal area
Source: Prepared by the author based on PRA sessions of the study area, 2014.
Figure 2 shows the status of climate induced hazards with seasonality in the study sites of coastal
area. The PRA sessions of hazards seasonality revealed that these coastal zones and their people
especially women are very vulnerable, where tropical cyclone, storm surge, flooding, salinity
intrusion, drought, cold-wave, water logging and bank erosion hazards caused major damages in
every year. Tidal surge intensity is very high in the month of June, July and August in the study
area. Salinity intrusion intensity is extreme in the month of March, April and May. In addition, the
people of coastal area are severely affected by tornadoes and drought in April; and Flooding and
erosion hazards severely faced in the month of August and September. The field data also revealed
that October and November is the month of Norwester hazards in the coastal area.
5. COMMUNITY BASED ADAPTATIONS (CBA) TO CLIMATE CHANGE
The multi-hazard prone coastal area ranks second with 43% households below the poverty line
(CDMP, 2013). The study focused on innovative adaptation practices for climatic risk reduction as
well as promotion of climate resilient livelihoods of the vulnerable communities. Local resource-
based application of indiginous knowledge including technology like: homestead and plinth
raising, raised pond boundary, rain water harvesting, earthen embankment, saline tolerent fish
cultivation, crab fattering, salt cultivation systems were also effective and fruitful interventions
under the study for reducing climatic risks as well as ensure climate resilient innovative
adaptation practices.
5.1 Raise plinth and homestead area
According to the Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan 2009 (MoEF, 2009),
increasingly frequent and severe tropical cyclones, with higher wind speeds and storms surges
leading to more damage in the coastal region. To response Flood and tidal surge hazards, plinth
raise of house and homestead are very important for the Coastal and Char-land people in
Bangladesh. Plinth and homestead raising have raised the hope of flood and tidal surge-prone
people for better livelihood also. The plinth raising activities have saved them from inundation,
saved their assets, helped them to start compost preparation, vegetable gardening, poultry rearing,
etc. at homesteads. The intervention was appropriate and necessary as the homestead is inundated
by flood or tidal surge water very often.
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5.2 Earthen embankment to protect saline water
Flooding by saline water during a storm surge or when a coastal embankment is breached affects
parts of tidal and estuarine floodplains. Storm surge occuring in the pre-monsoon season mainly
destroy boro and aus paddy. Those occuring in the post-monsoon season mainly affect
transplanted aman. Generally, saline storm-surge flood-water is able to penetrate more deeply into
soils if it affects them early in the pre-monsoon season, when the soils are relatively dry
(Brammer, 1999). The impacts of climate change could affect agriculture in Bangladesh in many
ways: the predicted sea-level rise will threaten valuable coastal agricultural land, particularly in
low-lying areas. To prevent saline water into the homestead and farmland, earthen embankment
was made by the local community at the Sonagaji exposed coastal area (Photo 1).
5.3 Raise pond boundary
The coastal belt has been identified as typical problem area due to different climatic disaster,
complex hydro geological conditions and adverse water quality which make safe water supply
difficult. Similar to other areas in the coastal belt, Bagerhat districts is also associated with an
acute safe water crisis. In this context, coastal belt, especially the exposed areas and islands are the
most climates induced hazard-prone areas in Bangladesh. Even tidal surge intrudes saline water in
the upper aquifer that creates severe problems for both the drinking and domestic (cooking,
bathing, washing clothes, cleaning utensils etc) use of water. Households mainly use nearby
ponds, ghers, canals, rivers for domestic purpose. Pond is a common source of safe surface water
for household activities. The exposed coastal communities used it for drinking purpose also. To
protect saline water contamination through tidal surge and coastal flooding, the coastal community
raised their earthen pond boundary around one meter higher than usual case.
Photo 1: Raise pond boundary at Sonagaji ; Photo 2: Earthen embankment to protect saline water;
5.4 Rain water harvesting for drinking water
People usually drink pond water in this region. A few people also drink less saline deep tube- well
water. Rainwater is the safest drinking water in coastal area. All households harvest rain by using
pitcher, rainwater tank, plastic tank, Jerry can etc. The use of deep and shallow tube well has been
unsuccessful in this area. Excess salinity in the upper aquifers resulted in failure of sinking
shallow tube-wells. A substantial part of household purchase drinking water. In the context of
above mentioned situation, Rain water harvesting plant is an important innovative livelihood
options for safe drinking water in the exposed salinity-prone coastal area. They collect water in
monsoon and they can use this water only for drinking purpose. They preserve this fresh water for
next five months in drought season for one family.
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5.5 Salt production as an alternative options for livelihood
The increasing saline water impacts heavily on the soil thus affecting agricultural farming, along
with other livelihoods opportunities, health, food and water consumption as well as the entire
ecosystem. Most of the agricultural farming lands have been converted to saline-prone barren
land. That is why the coastal people of Teknaf are highly involved in salt production activities
(Photo 3). The land often face impacts of increasing temperature, cyclones, high tidal bore, sea
level rise, excessive rainfall, lack of rainfall and river erosion. The impacts of global warming are
strongly visible in this coastal ecosystem.
5.6 Crab fattering as an alternative options for livelihood
To response salinity-prone climatic hazards, Crab fattening is an innovative livelihood adaptation
practice for the community of exposed southwest coastal area in Bangladesh (Photo 4). For Crab
fattening, pond or ditch, Lime, Net, Fingerlings, Bamboo, Bamboo branch, Rain water etc are
needed. Fingerlings have to collect from Sundarban mangrove forest area. All the raw materials to
make favorable environment for crab cultivation are locally available in round the year including
pre and post hazardous situation. At first the entrepreneur repaired their pond walls to protect the
saline water intrusion then use lime to purify the pond ground level mud and stored the rain water.
After that they release Crab into the pond, feeding the crab regularly and selling to the local
market. As per the discussion with the beneficiary, they are getting other benefits by fattening
crab. They can full-fill their own consumption which created a scope for fulfilling their nutritional
security from their own source. It also creates an extra earning opportunity by selling the crab in to
the local market. Crab has a very good demand in the local market. Pond walls protect the salinity
intrusion and create an opportunity to store rain water. By protecting saline water intrusion and
storage of rain water, the environments around the pond become good. It creates the opportunity to
plant some trees.
Photo 3: Salt production in Teknaf Photo 4: Crab fattering in Mongla
They also face some challenges to operate this livelihood adaptation practice such as; saline water
intrusion with high scale (ppt), tidal surge, less and heavy rainfall etc. They have to repair or build
raised strong pond wall to protect saline water and use netting to protect crab from heavy rainfall
and inundation which is really tough and stressful sometimes. Rapid flood and heavy rainfall
create some problems to ensure favorable environment for this system.
5.7 Cultivation of Mono-sex Telapia fish in Salinity Prone area
To response salinity-prone climatic hazards, cultivation of Mono-sex Tilapia fish is an alternative
livelihood adaptation practice for the community of exposed southwest coastal area in Bangladesh.
Compare to other fish variety, saline tolerance capacity is higher than others. For cultivation of
Mono-sex Tilapia fish, pond or ditch, Lime, Net, Fingerlings, Bamboo, Bamboo branch, Rain
water etc are needed. All the raw materials to make favorable environment for Mono-sex Tilapia
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cultivation are locally available in round the year including pre and post hazardous situation. To
prepare such types of livelihood options, firstly repaired the pond walls to protect the saline water
intrusion then use lime to purify the pond ground level mud and stored the rain water. After that
they release fingerling into the pond and feeding the fingerlings regularly. They use lime to purify
pond water. Finally they harvest Monosex Tilapia fish ad sell into the local fish market or the
whole-seller. Duration of Monosex Telapia fish cultivation takes only three-four months for one
production, by this way they may continue it all the year round according to availability of water.
6. MAINSTREAMING COMMUNITY BASED ADAPTATION
Climate change is one of the most serious threats to sustainable development with adverse impacts
on social, economic and ecological resources. The skills and practices of local communities to
address climate change vulnerability have already got importance in Bangladesh Climate Change
Strategies & Action Plans (BCCSAP). The Bangladesh NAPA (National Adaptation Programme
of Action) and Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan (BCCSAP) have identified
climate affected areas and suggested immediate and urgent actions, but there has been lack of
action on the ground level to address the impacts. The poor and vulnerable communities need
greater awareness about the risks and vulnerability associated with climate change. Awareness can
be built by providing access to new information and knowledge; motivation for engagement;
capacity and skill building for local action towards adaptation; using appropriate technologies, and
institutional support to address the risks and vulnerability at local and regional levels.
Adaptation to climate change not just be local but might require inter-disciplinary institutional and
local development process. Adaptation to increased risks of severe weather events, as well as
other impacts of climate change, is essential for development. Adaptation will require climate-
smart policies and investments to make countries more resilient to the effects of climate change,
including losses of property, habitat, infrastructure, and lives. Country governments and their
citizens, as well as development partner institutions and climate negotiators, need a better
understanding of the potential damage due to climate change and adaptation costs to formulate
effective adaptation to extreme weather events.
7. CONCLUSIONS
This study has opened a new window to dive deeper into the issues of innovative climate change
adaptations in the exposed coastal areas. Though there are variations and similarities in the
livelihoods pursued by the households in different climatic disaster prone exposed coastal areas.
The ultimate key impacts of climate change and variability will be on livelihoods of the peoples
depending on natural resource base and services of other sectors including infrastructure and
industries. Rain water harvesting, homestead and plinth raise, saline tolerance fish cultivation,
raising pond boundary, crab Fattening, etc. are the major climate adaptation initiatives as
alternative livelihood options by the exposed coastal communities. Community Based Adaptation
(CBA) program at local level is highly needed to enhance the resilience of communities and to
reduce disaster vulnerabilities. It is widely acclaimed that reducing vulnerability and adapting to
climate change should happen at the level where the impacts are adversely felt-the communities.
REFERENCES
Brammer, H. (1997). Agricultural Disaster Management in Bangladesh, Dhaka: The University
Press Limited.
IPCC (2007), Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Coastal System and Low Lying Areas,
Fourth Assessment Report, Cambridge University Press, p.327, 2007.
MoEF (2009), Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan, Ministry of Environment
and Forest, 2009.
UNDP (United Nations Development Programme), (2004). Reducing Disaster Risk: A Challenge
for Development , New York: Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery.
Wilde, Koen de (2011). Moving coastlines, pp.189-190.: Dhaka: University Press Ltd.
