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Livelihood vulnerability of char land communities to climate change and natural hazards in Bangladesh: an application of livelihood vulnerability index

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Abstract

Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to climate change. In general, Char land (Riverine Island) communities are frequently affected by floods, riverbank erosion, and other climatic hazards, including drought, cyclones, tornadoes, salinity intrusion, water logging, cold waves, etc., which cause many to lose their sources of livelihoods and properties and make them more vulnerable. Using survey data of 262 rural households, this study investigates the extent of livelihood vulnerability to climate change and natural hazards in the Char land communities by applying the climate change vulnerability index (CVI) (i.e., UN-IPCC vulnerability framework) and the livelihood vulnerability index (LVI) to develop context-specific interventions for building climate and livelihood resilience. The two approaches to vulnerability assessment were modified to incorporate local contexts and indigenous knowledge into 41 sub-components. The result shows that LVI and CVI values are different between Char land communities. The LVI index shows that households in Char Jotindro-Narayan (0.148) are more vulnerable than those in Char Kulaghat (0.139). The CVI values for Char Jotindro-Narayan (0.633) are slightly lower than for Char Kulaghat (0.639). The major vulnerability factors were access to food and water, social networks, natural disasters, and climatic variability. The study also indicates that flood, riverbank erosion, unemployment, and access to communication, market, and basic service opportunities are the major biophysical and socioeconomic factors determining livelihood vulnerability. Context-specific sustainable policies and development initiatives are required to improve the adaptive capacity of Char land communities across Bangladesh, thereby building their climate and livelihood resilience.

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Source: Field survey, 2021

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Source: Field Survey, 2021

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to CRP-II project of Krishi Gobeshona Foundation (KGF), BARC, Dhaka, for funding the study. The authors are also highly grateful to the respondents of this research project.

Funding

Authors thankfully acknowledge the Deanship of Scientific Research for providing administrative and financial supports. Funding for this research was given under award number RGP2/185/43 by the Deanship of Scientific Research; King Khalid University; Ministry of Education, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur, 5400, Bangladesh

    Abdullah Al Mamun & Abu Reza Md. Towfiqul Islam

  2. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur & University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Australia

    G. M. Monirul Alam

  3. School of Social Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

    Md Nazirul Islam Sarker

  4. Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Australia

    Michael Odei Erdiaw-Kwasie

  5. International Rice Research Institute, Dhaka, Bangladesh

    Humnath Bhandari

  6. Department of Civil Engineering, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia

    Javed Mallick

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  1. Abdullah Al Mamun
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  3. G. M. Monirul Alam
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  4. Md Nazirul Islam Sarker
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Correspondence to Abu Reza Md. Towfiqul Islam, G. M. Monirul Alam or Javed Mallick.

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Appendix 1

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Table 3 Livelihood vulnerability index (LVI) components and indicators developed for this study (HHs = households; NGOs = non-governmental organizations)
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Al Mamun, A., Islam, A.R.M.T., Alam, G.M.M. et al. Livelihood vulnerability of char land communities to climate change and natural hazards in Bangladesh: an application of livelihood vulnerability index. Nat Hazards 115, 1411–1437 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-022-05599-y

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