Assessment of storm surge induced vulnerability and changing adaptation strategies in the south-west coast of Bangladesh

Abstract

Tropical cyclones, storm surges and floods are frequent and severe along the coastal region in the recent years due to the impact of global climate change. Inhabitants of the coastal area has adapted new, innovative and environmental friendly techniques for their survival. The study has assessed storm surge vulnerability in the south-west coast and the prevailing coping strategies. The study distinguished two distinct zones, namely, ‘Low vulnerable area’ and ‘Highly vulnerable area’ considering the vulnerability of risk factors using GIS spatial analysis. Highly vulnerable areas are mainly located in the southern part while a few areas are far inland along the estuarine rivers is low vulnerable area. Major physical and environment aspects of the study area have been severely impacted by cyclone, storm-surge, flood, waterlogging and salinity. Risks and vulnerability increased in the recent decade due to prolongation of hydro-meteorological events which affecting the life, livelihoods and adaptation practices and ecosystem of the coastal region. About 33% of the households were displaced due to extreme condition of the hazard events. Inhabitants of the low vulnerable area found to have higher percentage of dislocation in the present time than past which indicates the rate of increasing vulnerability in the area.

The hazard events had caused extensive damages of infrastructure, agriculture, homestead and service facilities while waterlogging coupled with salinity is the main cause for agriculture failure in the coastal region. The study revealed that level of salinity is higher in the highly vulnerable area while the rate of salinity intrusion is more in the low vulnerable area. Its proved with statistical significance that severity of salinity has increase slightly along the south-west cost while people’s concern on impact of salinity has sharply increased in the low vulnerable area. The inhabitants have taken some indigenous, traditional and local strategies in individual and collective settings to cope with the impact of cyclone and waterlogging. The study observed that the people’s tendency of building better house has increased all along whereas, practice of taking loan for repair works has decreased remarkably in the recent years; livelihood adaptation practices like new agricultural activities have increased in highly vulnerable area while non-agricultural activities have increased in the low vulnerable areas; rain water harvesting for drinking water has become popular in the recent years; and reconstruction of roads and embankments has increased about three times in highly vulnerable areas and two times in low vulnerable areas.