Climate Change Impacts and Ongoing Adaptation Measures in the Bangladesh Sundarbans

About this research

The climate of Bangladesh has changed drastically which may put considerable adverse impacts on mangrove fishers; however, very few studies focused on this professional group. An attempt was made to perceive the impact and adaptation measures of the Sundarbans mangrove resource users, employing interviews and focus group discussions. A total of 150 respondents were randomly selected from the Sundarbans west under Shyamnagar Upazila of Satkhira District. It was revealed that the abundance of fishes, fuel woods, honey, golpata (Nypa fruticans), and shrimp postlarvae (PL) witnessed considerable reduction. The resource users have adapted themselves by changing their occupation, becoming jobless and depending on the other family members. PL collection, honey collection, shrimp culture, and wood collection were found professional adapting strategies to adopt cyclone, flood, salinity intrusion, river erosion and drought. Several recommendations are elicited, the implementation of which is important to ensure livelihood sustainability of the mangrove communities.