Adopting the Local Knowledge of Coastal Communities for Climate Change Adaptation: A Case Study From Bangladesh

Nahid Sultana; Johannes M. Luetz

doi:10.3389/fclim.2022.823296

Back

Adopting the Local Knowledge of Coastal Communities for Climate Change Adaptation: A Case Study From Bangladesh

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Adopting the Local Knowledge of Coastal Communities for Climate Change Adaptation: A Case Study From Bangladesh

Nahid Sultana and Johannes M. Luetz

Frontiers in Climate, Vol.4, pp.1-19

2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fclim.2022.823296

Files and links (2)

pdf

Adopting the Local Knowledge of Coastal Communities for Climate Change Adaptation - A Case Study From Bangladesh4.31 MBDownload View

Published VersionCC BY V4.0, Open Access

url

https://doi.org/10.3389/fclim.2022.823296View

Published Version

Abstract

Bangladesh

climate adaptation

coastal zone

decision-making process

national plans

priority adaptation options

local knowledge

case study research

Bangladesh has a unique coastal system with both proximity of climatic vulnerability and opportunity, having rich coastal resources. The upkeep of people's livelihoods in the coastal zone largely depends on the degree to which key stakeholders at all levels of decision-making can participate in climate adaptation planning and implementation processes. These facts are well recognized in Bangladesh's Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plan (ICZM), National Adaptation Program of Action (NAPA), and the Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan (BCCSAP), which emphasize the need for integrated multi-level decision-making at all stages of the adaptive management cycle. The aim of this article is to assess the value of coastal community engagement in Bhola and Satkhira districts of Bangladesh and highlight priority programs that may increase adaptive capacity in the face of climate change. To this end, interviews were conducted involving local farmers, fishers, women householders, businessmen, and other local leaders, thus yielding a total 240 participants who informed this empirical research. Case studies of villages of these districts highlight helpful examples of adaptation initiatives that may increase people's capacity to respond to the adverse effects of climate change, both autonomously as villagers, and as part of a coordinated program to reduce vulnerability. Issues flagged for urgent attention include water management, socioeconomic conditions, and migration away from coastal districts. The findings point to both potential interventions and a need to better prioritize adaptation options and strategies that are suitable for local contexts. In some cases, these options reflect existing Indigenous and local knowledge (ILK) and adaptation practices which may be both supported and leveraged through the coordinated implementation of different aspects of government policies.

Details

Title: Adopting the Local Knowledge of Coastal Communities for Climate Change Adaptation: A Case Study From Bangladesh
Authors: Nahid Sultana (Author) - UNSW Australia
Johannes M. Luetz (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Law and Society
Publication details: Frontiers in Climate, Vol.4, pp.1-19
Publisher: Frontiers Research Foundation
Date published: 2022
DOI: 10.3389/fclim.2022.823296
ISSN: 2624-9553
Copyright note: © 2022 Sultana and Luetz. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
Organisation Unit: University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Law and Society; School of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Legacy
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99638178302621
Output Type: Journal article