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Prospects of Pond Ecosystems as Resource Base Towards Community Based Adaptation (cba) to Climate Change in Coastal Region of Bangladesh

Md. Golam Rabbani
Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies, House-10, Road-16A, Gulshan-1, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh

Syed Hafizur Rahman
Department of Environmental Sciences, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka 1342, Bangladesh

Sirazoom Munira
Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies, House-10, Road-16A, Gulshan-1, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Climate-induced hazards are adversely affecting the pond ecosystems in Bangladesh. Most of the poor communities collect water from isolated ponds for drinking and other domestic needs. This paper explores how the small pond ecosystems and associated livelihoods of the coastal communities are vulnerable and argues that the pond ecosystem can be a potential resource base for community based adaptation in the coastal regions of Bangladesh. A set of quantitative and qualitative tools were applied to 309 households across five villages. The study showed that 96% of the respondents are dependent on pond water for drinking. More than 50% households expressed that temperature, rainfall variations and salinity intrusion, directly and indirectly, affect the pond water. Physical parameter values of temperature, pH and salinity from the ponds showed changes across different seasons. Drinking water scarcity during pre-monsoon (March–May), winter (Dec–Feb), disaster and immediate post-disaster period among the communities is high. Salinity intrusion and surface runoff caused by excessive rainfall in short periods also cause deterioration in the quality of pond water. However, successful examples of pond water usage emerged through the discussions, especially during a post-disaster crisis, which strengthens the idea that ponds could be a resource base for community-based adaptation in the coast of Bangladesh.

Keywords: Adaptation, Climate change, Coast, Ponds, Resource base

Location: Coastal region of Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Resource Development and Management

Commodity: Pond

Objectives:

The penultimate section emphasises research findings, including the perception of the households on climate change induced hazards in the study areas, current livelihood options related to the pond ecosystem, existing climate change impacts and vulnerability on the ponds and provide a strong ground on how pond ecosystem can be active for community based adaptation. Finally, concluding remarks are based on the arguments and findings.

Methodology:

The research followed a comprehensive methodology, employing quantitative and qualitative tools to determine the climate change impacts on pond ecosystems and associated livelihoods of the study communities.

A rigorous literature review was carried out to meet the objective of the research. It was done to serve three main purposes: (1) it provided a basis and a basic structure of the argument of existing works related to climate change, coastal zones and implications on wetlands/ponds ecosystem; (2) it also provided the knowledge gaps related to this research and identified opportunities for further works on the issue; (3) the trend of these climate parameters and people’s knowledge on impacts and vulnerabilities were studied. Overall, the literature of major climatic hazards affecting the coastal zone of Bangladesh, climatic hazards affecting ponds and associated livelihoods of the communities and relevant policy documents were mainly reviewed. The literature that deals with climate change impact on isolated ponds and associated livelihoods are very rare. Most of the current literature emphasizes the general impacts of climate change on a national level on different sectors including water resources. There is very little literature addressing the implications of climate parameters on pond water quality at a global level. Some literature discusses fisheries and management aspects of the ponds but climate change related to pond ecosystem issues are not well addressed. These studies do not have adequate coverage on the pathways and mechanism of how deterioration of water quality of ponds caused by climate change and climate variability implicate with livelihoods, social dimension, environmental and economic settings of the poor local communities. The pond ecosystem also provides cultural services and religious services to the communities in many ways. However, this great resource of the rural poor communities is being adversely affected by climate change and climate variability.

Measuring physical parameters The study analysed the climate parameters, for example temperature and rainfall pattern, i.e. the key physical parameters of the ponds. Existing literature demonstrates that these parameters have an impact on wetlands. de Roda Husman & Schets (2010) mention that climate change and water-related infectious diseases are also intertwined. The pH and salinity of water of all the ponds were measured in situ to examine the variation of the water quality in different seasons. The water temperature, pH and salinity were measured by a thermometer, pH meter and portable refractometer respectively. Four readings were taken from the surface water for each of the ponds in three different seasons (premonsoon, monsoon and winter) of the study year (2012). Physical parameters including the area and depth of the ponds were measured using conventional scale measurements.

People’s perception through survey, focus group discussions and interviews The study included a number of tools for understanding the pond characteristics with climatic parameters and household understanding of the scenario. To understand people’s perception of climate change impacts on ponds and associated livelihoods and adaptation options, the survey was carried out with a semi-structured questionnaire. The households were randomly selected from the list of pond users/beneficiary households. In total, 309 beneficiary households were surveyed to meet the objective of the research. Focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted among the direct beneficiaries of the households and other relevant stakeholders. Participants included the Union Chairman, respondents from the Department of Fisheries, District Project Implementation Officer (PIO), Union Parishad members, teachers, NGO representatives, among many. A total of nine FGDs were conducted and the FGD conducted included 12–14 participants. In-depth interviews were carried out among the most knowledgeable people of the community who were selected from the FGDs to be candidates able to best express and explain the current condition in the study area.

Source of Information: Journal of Water and Climate Change | 09.1 | 2018

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The study shows that dependency on pond water is multipurpose. Pond water is being used for drinking, cooking, vegetable gardening, irrigation, fish cultivation and other market-related activities. The pond-based livelihoods and associated changes due to climatic hazards are the areas where the knowledge needs to be updated for effective adaptation for rural, disadvantaged poor communities on the coast. It is necessary to look at the existing state of household’s natural/environmental resources (e.g. ponds) as capital for future adaptation planning. Work is required if households are to successfully undertake longer-term sustainable adaptation practices to current climate variability and potential future climate change impacts on a pond ecosystem. Locally driven immediate and longer-term adaptation strategies (based on local knowledge, resources or capitals) generated through the active participation of local people is likely to support households in undertaking sustainable livelihood practices. A clear understanding of climate change vulnerability, current institutional arrangement and potential local community-driven adaptation options for pond ecosystems could help the policy makers. As most of the households either individually or in partnership own a pond, which mainly provides social, environmental and economic services, a strategy for effective management of it may be a better adaptation option for the poor. Using ponds as a resource can contribute to sustainable livelihoods, especially in the coastal areas of Bangladesh. Limitations of the research included uncertainties in meteorological data and dependence on people’s perception, but the use of comprehensive tool including conducting household surveys, interviews and FGDs added a valuable impact on the overall results, which minimized error.

The limitations for not being able to study all 19 districts in the coastal zone leaves scope for future research as an extrapolation of this study. The findings of this research can be used as an example to be implemented in the extended studies that can be carried out in neighbouring districts to neighbouring countries in south Asia which can contribute to community-based adaptation techniques.

Through this, the ponds could essentially become productive and life-saving assets for the villagers at times of crises, especially in post-disaster periods if community level adaptations come into play, the ponds could be invested in to produce quality sources water resources and a good stock of fish. Moreover, such investments could potentially enhance and fulfil the nutritional values of the people after the calamity, i.e. in terms of providing fresh or clean water and protein sources for maintaining proper health of the climate victims, eventually preventing unwanted diseases experienced right after the disasters. It can also prevent people from dying from hunger. In fact, ponds could be considered as existing capital or an adequate resource base for community-based adaptation in the vulnerable coastal zone.

Knowledge Management: Journal