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Coastal Zone Management and Climate Change: Challenges and Opportunities for Bangladesh

Syed Safiullah
Department of Chemistry, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka 1342, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Against the back drop of climate change and consequent sea level rise all eyes are now set on the coastal zone of Bangladesh. Even those cock sure “experts”, who residing far away from the coastal zone, would with all certainty assert that there would be an inevitable march of our coast line towards the sea with considerable land accretion, have now blissfully forgotten their prophecy and joined the climate change camp to vociferously put forward the most pessimistic disaster scenario. Climate change not withstanding, the coastal zone of Bangladesh with world’s largest mangrove forest, undoubtedly comprise one of the most varied and complex ecosystem in the world. Compared to its land area, Bangladesh has considerable coast line; starting from the Sundarbans in the west extending first towards east then south up to Teknaf, the coast line makes unwieldy zigzag run of 700 km, with such uncertain twists and turns that our coastal line is often cited as a convincing example of fractal in the mathematical parlour. Commensurate with the complexity of coast line, delineation of the coastal zone itself is quite a daunting task. Ten thousand squire miles may nevertheless be a reasonable estimate. Dynamic and complex nature of Bengal delta and capricious motor action of the three major South Asian rivers namely Padma, Brahmapurta and Meghna have shaped a coastal zone which at once presents a challenge and opportunity.

Keywords: Coastal Zone Management, Climate Change, Challenges and Opportunities, Bangladesh

Location: Coastal Zone of Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Risk Management in Agriculture

Commodity: Climate change, Management

Objectives:

The Bangladesh costal zone, except for cursory and often misleading passing reference in global survey and international scientific literature, remains poorly studied. Sheer lack of collaboration based on equity have made Bangladesh coastal zone a scientific terra incognito and a tabula rasa in terms both data acquisition and acquired human cognition. In the face of impending global climate change this age old neglect should now be well poised to be redeemed.

Management of an eco-system stipulates its study in a holistic manner. We shall attempt in the following at describing the coastal zone in-terms of sediment transport, biogeochemistry, land accretion and overall productivity. And also briefly discuss how climate change is going to affect this important economic zone of Bangladesh. And finally we will suggest some ways and means how to respond to the threat of climate change and sea level rise with particular reference to the Sundarbans

Methodology:

Sediment depositional profile and grainsize spectral analysis Each year about 2.5 billion tons of sediment is transported to the sea by the G.M.B. system. The transported sediment has a profound effect on the geomorphology and geochemistry of Bangladesh flood plains, costal zone and the coastal sea. Grain size spectral analysis has now come to be recognized as a useful method of understanding the transport history of sediments as they evolve from unsorted particles to fluvial deposits. The grain size spectra at three important locations namely Ganges- Brahmputra confluence, Meghna River Ferry Chandpur and Meghna-Padma confluence Chandpur (Safiullah-Kate Kranc).

Biogeochemical perspectives of the coastal waters River inputs profoundly influence the biogeochemistry of the coastal waters. Due to enormous input of fresh water during the monsoon, the salinity gradients are pushed into the sea which rebound back during the dry season giving rise to complex salinity zoning. This significantly affects the flocculation and subsequent sedimentation at the interface of fresh and salt water.

Amount of carbon and other minerals transported by the rivers is very important. The monthly variation of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and other chemical parameters at the confluence of Padma- Brahmputra and amount of carbon transported is shown in Table 1( Safiullah).

Coastline and the coastal zone According to study undertaken with LandSAT satellite imageries in 1990, coastal zone of Bangladesh remains in a state of dynamic equilibrium in-terms of accretion and erosion (Jabbar). Delta development activities are taking place in Patuakhali, Bhola, Noakhali and Feni coastal area. Major erosion took place along the eastern coast of Bhola, northern side of Hatia and north and west side of Hatia during 1977-90. The Bhola island was found extended 60 Km south. Hatia was shifted 45 Km south. Sandwip has gone through both growth and decay. Data relating to coast line and a real extent of coastal zone in the vicinity of coast line.

Vanishing mangroves: case point the Sundarbans Bangladesh coastal zone accommodates the largest mangrove ecosystem of the world- the Sundarbans. From geological point of view Sundarbans was formed comparatively in recent times. Its age has been estimated by various authors in the range 5000 – 3000 BP. The formation and characteristics of the forest may have been affected by changes in the course of the Ganges by neotectonic movements.

Climate change and the coastal region Generally, effect of climate change means sea level rise and consequent encroachment of sea into land. But that is not the whole picture. Climate change due to green house gases stipulates global warming. In the short term (time frame: 25 years) there is another serious implication for Bangladesh. As the global temperature increases, the largest periglacial area of earth in the Himalayas will melt away. As a result Ganges and Brahmaputra will no longer be fed by snow melt water. We visualize this process by the following scenario. First there will be catastrophic flood then there will be drastically diminished flow of the rivers. Both will very adversely affect the Sundarbans. Scarcity of water will engender trans-riparian political tension in the whole region.

Source of Information: Khulna University Studies Special Issue (SESB 2010) : ix-xxi : June, 2010

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Expansion of coastal sea fish culture in both natural and intensive mode. ii. Culture of sea grass, sea vegetable and edible phytoplankton. A given amount of biomass normally takes two months to double itself in weight. On the other hand phytoplankton takes only 72 hrs to achieve the same result. Therefore farming of sea biomass does not only provide food but also abundant biofuel. It may, however, be pointed out that as of now the water of estuarine shore line, because of enormous amount of sediment input from the rivers, does not have a photic zone with much depth. Species adaptability by suitable experiment may solve this problem. But the coastal zone from the Karnafully mouth south ward has suitable photic depth and it is very conducive to primary production near the Saint Martin’s island. Therefore initial pilot production for sea farming should be started at these places.

Suggestions ? Bangladesh must strengthen its naval surveillance and capability of its navy. ? There should be a national policy for costal zone management and climate change. ? Coastal zone management and climate change must be firmly embedded in national psyche by integrating the subject with national education curricula. ? There should be established an International Institute for Mangroves Management at an estimated cost of $ 50 million (current price). The proposed institute should be adjunct of Khulna University. ? A separate ministry for climate change and coastal zone management should be created with its headquarters either of Chittagong or Khulna. ? International community must render assistance to Bangladesh in organizing its techno scientific capability to collect primary data for climate change and participate in global experiments for climate control.

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