Importance of Indigenous Adaptation Practices in Ecosystem-based Adaptation at Medir Haor, Bangladesh using DPSIR framework
Tapas Ranjan Chakraborty ¹* and Syed Hafizur Rahman²
¹ Senior Programme Manager, Climate Change Programme, BRAC Centre,75 Mohakhali, Dhaka, 1212, Bangladesh
² Department of Environmental Sciences, Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh.
*Corresponding Author: biocontapas@yahoo.com
Abstract
Indigenous Adaptation Practices in the wetland basin have proven evidence of coping with climate extremes. Since the 80s the intensity of the hydro-meteorological hazards has increased. The community of the Medir Haor under Nasirnagar upazila of Brahmanbaria district, Bangladesh. Primarily farmers and fishermen are practicing indigenous adaptation practices since the structured adaptation projects are yet to be implemented in this area. The study was conducted from January 2017 to September 2022 in the villages of the Medir Haor having community consultations, Focus Group Discussions, and Key Informant Interviews. The DPSIR (Driver-ForcesPressures-State-Impacts-Responses) framework has been used to identify the responses toward the betterment of the ecosystem and the Ecosystem-based Adaptation options. The community has identified (1) Protection of fisheries resources and diversification of fisheries-based livelihoods; (2) Crop diversification and introduction of winter crops in the crop fields of Haor; (3) Strengthen the communication system including the road networks; (4) Make available the extreme weather information for community preparedness; (5) Improve the health supports as Ecosystem-based Adaptation options where tradition practices like dry sowing of paddy; Seedbed sowing for the second time; Bhura, a roundish water hyacinth floating bed; Early harvesting for diga dhan; Cultivating Dhaincha, Sesbania bispinosa; Khola; Bathan, the grazing land; Peritana, taking out the mud from the deep pools; Mana, traditional fishing is forbidden side; Changari and Airbandh may have potential uses. The study has identified the contribution of indigenous knowledge toward Ecosystem-based Adaptation
Introduction
Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change. To survive the communities have been practicing a wide range of adaptation options, both planned and spontaneous. Planned adaptation initiatives by development actors in implementation were in different forms. The Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) in Bangladesh initiated science in 2012. EbA is a strategy for adapting to climate change that harnesses nature-based solutions and ecosystem services. EbA uses sustainable management, conservation, and restoration of ecosystems to provide services that enable people to adapt to the impacts of climate change. It is a peoplecentric concept. The traditional practices are community resources and skills that were gained over hundreds of years by a community. Local and traditional knowledge and skills are increasingly being recognized as vital resources for adaptation. The purpose of this paper is to explore traditional coping practices that may enhance EbA in the wetland basin of Bangladesh.