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Coping with Climate Change by Using Indigenous Knowledge of Ethnic Communities from in and Around Lawachara National Park of Bangladesh

Sayma Akhter
Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet-3114, Bangladesh

Farzana Raihan
Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet-3114, Bangladesh

Md. Shawkat Islam Sohel
Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet-3114, Bangladesh

Md. Abu Syed
Bangladesh Center for Advanced Studies, Dhaka-1212, Bangladesh

Suman Kanti Das
Department of Statistics, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet-3114, Bangladesh

Mohammed Alamgir
Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, University of Chittagong, Chittagong-4331, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Climate change is considered to be one of the most serious threats and its impact is felt by the most vulnerable world’s poorest countries including Bangladesh. In particular, ethnic communities, whose livelihoods depend on the use of natural resources, are likely to bear the brunt of adverse impacts. A case study was conducted in a fragile ecosystem of Lawachara national park of Bangladesh, to know the indigenous knowledge of the ethnic communities, how they adapt to the climate change impact by using indigenous knowledge. They use various IK to protect their crops from climate change impact. Thus, the government should design policies that will be helpful to make them more resilient to face climate change impact.

Keywords: Adaptation, Indigenous knowledge, Climate change, Ethnic communities, Bangladesh

Location: Around Lawachara National Park of Bangladesh (Khasia, Garo, Monipuri and Tripura)

Start Date: 00-00-2010

End Date:

Program Area: Knowledge Management

Non-commodity: Climate change

Objectives:

It is very essential to find out how ethnic community’s livelihood and ecosystem is affected by climate change and how they use their knowledge to adjust with climate change. Furthermore, the contributions of IK (Indigenous Knowledge) to understanding and interpreting ecological processes and for use in environmental and social impact assessments is widely acknowledged.

Methodology:

The study was carried out in 2010 by selecting the study area purposively due to the availability of different ethnic community ecological zone. There were four ethnic communities available in and around LNP (Lawachara National Park). Those are Khasia, Garo, Monipuri and Tripura. There were two Khasia punji, one Monipuri para, one Garo bosti and one Tripura para. Among 26 villages, only four villages were selected considering community type by stratified random sampling method. Before, data collection a week long initial field visit was carried out. The main objective of that visit was to become familiar with the study area such as geographical situation and social structure. It helped to identify socio-economic and bio-physical conditions of community. For the study semi-structured questionnaire survey, key informant interview and focus group discussions (FGD) has been conducted for the collection of data. Interview with the key informants was taken to identify perception and attitude about the problem. Elder people, the king / the headman of the community were considered as the key informant for interview. Moreover, the eco-tour guides were also considered as the key informant for the study because they are mostly from different ethnic communities and have immense knowledge about the issues considered important for the research. In this research, a face-to-face interview was applied for information collection. Key informant interviews were taken from four respondents (a single person from a community). Focused group discussions (FGDs) were held in the communities for two purposes. Those are -situation analysis and potentiality analysis. Situation analysis has been done to identify current observed climate changes and impacts of such changes particularly on local livelihoods. Potentiality analysis has been done, to know the resources available in the community and the extents to which these resources help the people live to cope with the impacts of changing climate. Based on the objective of the research, four FGDs were conducted in four ethnic communities. Equal number of participants (both male and female) was selected for FGDs and a total of six participants (3 male and 3 female) were selected for each FGD considering their age. Total 235 Households were found in the study area and 59 households were surveyed with 25% sampling intensity. After collection of field data, data were analyzed using MS EXCEL and SPSS both qualitative and quantitative analysis has been done for the study. In the present study factor analysis was done to identify the climate hazards that have a pronounced effect on the production of key crops of the ethnic communities living in and around Lawachara National Park of Bangladesh.

Source of Information: Journal of Forest Science Vol. 29, No. 3, pp. 181-193, August, 2013

Article Link (Online Journal): http://dx.doi.org/10.7747/JFS.2013.29.3.181

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Climate change is evident in the study areas. The statistical analysis of temperature data from 1989-2009 in Srimangal showed a linear trend of increasing around 0.5^o C, with the increase mostly in the winter period. Ethnic Communities are already experiencing unusual changes in temperature and rainfall patterns. Current and future scenarios of climate change indicate that many of the study areas will face risks and climatic stresses have made sectors such as production and livelihood more vulnerable. There have been huge losses in the livelihood assets of communities, particularly among the poor ethnic people. Stresses and shocks are aggravating the problems and vulnerability of communities. Impacts were observed contributing to the loss of production which has forced many people to do illegal acts and also force people to find some alternative livelihood option. Similarly, changes in water balances have affected land, rural economies and food security. Mal-adaptation practices were clearly observed and found to aggravate further vulnerability to water resources. Other hazards, such as drought, flash flood, soil erosion and hailstorm, also resulted in the loss of natural resources and community assets. However, there is some difference in coping capacity among types of ethnic groups. Garo community was more affected by the hazards compared to Khasia, Monipuri and Tipra communities. It was observed that ethnic groups have traditionally developed climate resilience systems like developing safety measures and finding alternatives. This is supported by the analysis that people with higher income, education, knowledge, and adaptation options are less vulnerable than those who are deprived from them. Similarly, coping mechanisms, traditional knowledge and innovations all play an important role in shaping vulnerability. Local knowledge, practices and innovations are important elements for community-based coping and adaptation mechanisms. Coping strategies and adaptation mechanisms were limited at Gila Chora except Magur Chora, Dolubari and Baligaon. There is urgent need to undertake steps towards awareness-increasing programs regarding future un-avoidable impacts of climate change and options to cope with it. However, few existing initiatives are initiatives scattered and limited to conduct long-term planning. The more specific studies on the sectorial basis considering gender, ethnicity and economic conditions of peoples is urgent to validate and document the actual coping options to respond to unavoidable impacts of changing climate. At the national level, there was lack of information, knowledge, and proper database regarding local and regional information, and government plans and strategies to deal with climate change impacts. Information derived from the study demands more in-depth sectoral studies and research that address impacts of climate change on ecosystems and biodiversity -wetlands, forests, land-use change, species composition, and important plants and wildlife. There is also a need to integrate communities’ perception and knowledge with climate scenario development and projections. Moreover, local community perceptions and concerns demand for immediate action on promoting climate-resilient development activities at the community level.

Knowledge Management: Journal