Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Evaluating Adaptation Strategies to Coastal Multihazards in Sundarban Biosphere Reserve, India, Using Composite Adaptation Index: A Household-Level Analysis

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
India: Climate Change Impacts, Mitigation and Adaptation in Developing Countries

Part of the book series: Springer Climate ((SPCL))

  • 521 Accesses

Abstract

Coastal areas are experiencing greater risk because of the increased frequency of multiple climate change-induced hazards. Thus, identification of suitable adaptation strategies for local communities has become imperative for lessening the impact of climate change. Although a large number of studies have touched upon the different components of vulnerability to coastal hazards, adaptation assessment has remained underemphasized in the existing literature. This paper assesses adaptation strategies to multiple coastal hazards in Sundarban Biosphere Reserve (SBR), India. We collected socioeconomic data and responses on adaptation strategies opted for extreme climate events, economic activities, and coping mechanism from 570 households in the Reserve. Factor analysis was utilized to identify the significant adaptation strategies opted by the sampled households. This analysis provided 14 significant adaptation strategies, explaining around 66% of the total variation among 45 adaptation strategies pursued by the households. Correlation was performed to establish the relationship between socioeconomic characteristics of the households and adaptation strategies. A composite adaptation index was then constructed using principal component analysis (PCA) to ascertain the level of adaptation. Findings revealed very high adaptation in Kakdwip, Kultali, Sagar, Patharpratima, Namkhana, and Gosaba blocks and a high degree of adaptation was observed in Hingalganj and Basanti blocks of the SBR. These blocks are located along the coast and are frequently impacted by coastal hazards. The blocks connected to the mainland are less affected by the disasters and have moderate or low levels of adaptation. The adaptive measures should target group-oriented prioritizing of the vulnerable areas and communities. Livelihood diversification and provision of basic amenities and facilities may lessen vulnerability in the SBR. The principal component-based adaptation index analysis helped in understanding the relationship between climatic adaptation strategies and the socioeconomic condition of the coastal community.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 109.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 139.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ahamed M (2013) Community based approach for reducing vulnerability to natural hazards (cyclone, storm surges) in coastal belt of Bangladesh. Procedia Environ Sci 17:361–371

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ahammed KB, Pandey AC (2019) Coastal social vulnerability and risk analysis for cyclone hazard along the Andhra Pradesh, East Coast of India. KN J Cartogr Geogr Inf 69(4):285–303

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Allison MA, Khan SR, Goodbred SL Jr, Kuehl SA (2003) Stratigraphic evolution of the late Holocene Ganges-Brahmaputra lower delta plain. Sediment Geol 155(3–4):317–342. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0037-0738(02)00185-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Antony GM, Rao KV (2007) A composite index to explain variations in poverty, health, nutritional status and standard of living: use of multivariate statistical methods. Public Health 121(8):578–587

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aon (2020) Weather, climate & catastrophe insight: 2019 annual report. http://thoughtleadership.aon.com/Documents/20200122-if-natcat2020.pdf?utm_source=ceros&utm_medium=storypage&utm_campaign=natcat20. Accessed 10th June 2020

  • Baills A, Garcin M, Bulteau T (2020) Assessment of selected climate change adaptation measures for coastal areas. Ocean Coast Manag 185:105059

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boelhouwer J, Stoop I (1999) Measuring well-being in the Netherlands: the SCP index from 1974 to 1997. Soc Indic Res 48(1):51–75

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Census of India (2011) Primary census abstracts. Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. http://www.censusindia.gov.in/pca/Searchdata.aspx. Accessed 25th June 2020

  • Danda A (2010) Sundarbans: future imperfect climate adaptation report. World Wide Fund for Nature, New Delhi

    Google Scholar 

  • de Campos RS, Codjoe SNA, Adger WN, Mortreux C, Hazra S, Siddiqui T et al (2020) Where people live and move in deltas. In: Deltas in the Anthropocene. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham, pp 153–177

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • DECCMA (2017) The Mahanadi delta: understanding the present state of climate change, adaptation and migration. https://generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk/deccma/wp-content/uploads/sites/181/2017/10/68439-A4-DECCMA-MD_final_web.pdf. Accessed 10th June 2020

  • Fotso JC, Kuate-Defo B (2005) Measuring socioeconomic status in health research in developing countries: should we be focusing on households, communities or both? Soc Indic Res 72(2):189–237

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gopalakrishnan S, Landry CE, Smith MD (2018) Climate change adaptation in coastal environments: modeling challenges for resource and environmental economists. Rev Environ Econ Policy 12(1):48–68

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Greenan BJW, Shackell N, Ferguson K, Greyson P, Cogswell A, Brickman D et al (2019) Climate change vulnerability of American lobster fishing communities in Atlantic Canada. Front Mar Sci 6:579

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hazra S, Ghosh T, Das Gupta R, Sen G (2002) Sea level and associated changes in the Sundarbans. Sci Cult 68(9/12):309–321

    Google Scholar 

  • Havard S, Deguen S, Bodin J, Louis K, Laurent O, Bard D (2008) A small-area index of socioeconomic deprivation to capture health inequalities in France. Soc Sci Med 67(12):2007–2016

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hotelling H (1933) Analysis of a complex of statistical variables into principal components. J Educ Psychol 24(417–441):498–520

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Houghton A, Austin J, Beerman A, Horton C (2017) An approach to developing local climate change environmental public health indicators in a rural district. J Environ Public Health 2017. https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/3407325

  • IPCC (2018a) Summary for policymakers. In: Masson-Delmotte V, Zhai P, Pörtner HO, Roberts D, Skea J, Shukla PR, Pirani A, Moufouma-Okia W, Péan C, Pidcock R, Connors S, Matthews JBR, Chen Y, Zhou X, Gomis MI, Lonnoy E, Maycock T, Tignor M, Waterfield T (eds) Global warming of 1.5°C. An IPCC special report on the impacts of global warming of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels and related global greenhouse gas emission pathways, in the context of strengthening the global response to the threat of climate change, sustainable development, and efforts to eradicate poverty. World Meteorological Organization, Geneva, 32 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • IPCC (2018b) Annex I: glossary [Matthews, J.B.R. (ed.)]. In: Masson-Delmotte V, Zhai P, Portner H-O, Roberts D, Skea J, Shukla PR, Pirani A, Moufouma-Okia W, Pean C, Pidcock R, Connors S, Matthews JBR, Chen Y, Zhou X, Gomis MI, Lonnoy E, Maycock T, Tignor M, Waterfield T (eds) Global Warming of 1.5°C. An IPCC special report on the impacts of global warming of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels and related global greenhouse gas emission pathways, in the context of strengthening the global response to the threat of climate change, sustainable development, and efforts to eradicate poverty. World Meteorological Organization, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaźmierczak A, Cavan G (2011) Surface water flooding risk to urban communities: analysis of vulnerability, hazard and exposure. Landsc Urban Plan 103(2):185–197

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kelman I, Glantz MH (2014) Early warning systems defined. In: Reducing disaster: early warning systems for climate change. Springer, Dordrecht, pp 89–108

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Koroglu A, Ranasinghe R, Jiménez JA, Dastgheib A (2019) Comparison of coastal vulnerability index applications for Barcelona Province. Ocean Coast Manag 178:104799. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2019.05.001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krishnan V (2010) Constructing an area-based socioeconomic index: a principal components analysis approach. Early Child Development Mapping Project, Edmonton

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuenzer C, Renaud FG (2012) Climate and environmental change in river deltas globally: expected impacts, resilience, and adaptation. In: The Mekong delta system. Springer, Dordrecht, pp 7–46

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Lai D (2003) Principal component analysis on human development indicators of China. Soc Indic Res 61(3):319–330

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mallick BJ, Witte SM, Sarkar R, Mahboob AS, Vogt J (2009) Local adaptation strategies of a coastal community during cyclone Sidr and their vulnerability analysis for sustainable disaster mitigation planning in Bangladesh. J Bangladesh Inst Planners 2:158–168

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maru YT, Smith MS, Sparrow A, Pinho PF, Dube OP (2014) A linked vulnerability and resilience framework for adaptation pathways in remote disadvantaged communities. Glob Environ Chang 28:337–350

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Messer LC, Vinikoor LC, Laraia BA, Kaufman JS, Eyster J, Holzman C et al (2008) Socioeconomic domains and associations with preterm birth. Soc Sci Med 67(8):1247–1257

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nichols CR, Wright LD, Bainbridge SJ, Cosby AG, Hénaff A, Loftis JD et al (2019) Collaborative science to enhance coastal resilience and adaptation. Front Mar Sci 6:404

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ogundele OM, Ubaekwe RE (2019) Early warning system and ecosystem-based adaptation to prevent flooding in Ibadan Metropolis, Nigeria. In: Handbook of climate change resilience. Springer, Cham

    Google Scholar 

  • Onyeneke RU, Igberi CO, Aligbe JO, Iruo FA, Amadi MU, Iheanacho SC et al (2020) Climate change adaptation actions by fish farmers: evidence from the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria. Aust J Agric Resour Econ 64(2):347–375

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oo AT, Van Huylenbroeck G, Speelman S (2018) Assessment of climate change vulnerability of farm households in Pyapon District, a delta region in Myanmar. Int J Disaster Risk Reduct 28:10–21

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Priya Rajan SM, Nellayaputhenpeedika M, Tiwari SP, Vengadasalam R (2019) Mapping and analysis of the physical vulnerability of coastal Tamil Nadu. Hum Ecol Risk Assess Int J 2019:1–17

    Google Scholar 

  • Rehman S, Sahana M, Kumar P, Ahmed R, Sajjad H (2020) Assessing hazards induced vulnerability in coastal districts of India using site-specific indicators: an integrated approach. GeoJournal:1–22. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10708-020-10187-3

  • Rygel L, O’sullivan D, Yarnal B (2006) A method for constructing a social vulnerability index: an application to hurricane storm surges in a developed country. Mitig Adapt Strateg Glob Chang 11(3):741–764

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sahana M, Sajjad H, Ahmed R (2015) Assessing spatio-temporal health of forest cover using forest canopy density model and forest fragmentation approach in Sundarban reserve forest, India. Modeling Earth Systems and Environment 1(4):1–10

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sahana M, Ahmed R, Sajjad H (2016) Analyzing land surface temperature distribution in response to land use/land cover change using split window algorithm and spectral radiance model in Sundarban Biosphere Reserve, India. Modeling Earth Systems and Environment 2(2):81

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sahana M, Sajjad H (2019) Vulnerability to storm surge flood using remote sensing and GIS techniques: a study on Sundarban Biosphere Reserve, India. Remote Sens Appl Soc Environ 13:106–120

    Google Scholar 

  • Sahana M, Rehman S, Paul AK, Sajjad H (2019a) Assessing socio-economic vulnerability to climate change-induced disasters: evidence from Sundarban Biosphere Reserve, India. Geol Ecol Lands 2019:1–13

    Google Scholar 

  • Sahana M, Hong H, Ahmed R, Patel PP, Bhakat P, Sajjad H (2019b) Assessing coastal island vulnerability in the Sundarban Biosphere Reserve, India, using geospatial technology. Environ Earth Sci 78(10):1–22

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sahana M, Rehman S, Sajjad H, Hong H (2020a) Exploring effectiveness of frequency ratio and support vector machine models in storm surge flood susceptibility assessment: a study of Sundarban Biosphere Reserve, India. Catena 189:104450

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sahana M, Rehman S, Ahmed R, Sajjad H (2020b) Analyzing climate variability and its effects in Sundarban Biosphere Reserve, India: reaffirmation from local communities. Environ Dev Sustain 2020:1–28

    Google Scholar 

  • Sahana M, Rehman S, Ahmed R, Sajjad H (2021) Assessing losses from multi-hazard coastal events using Poisson regression: empirical evidence from Sundarban Biosphere Reserve (SBR), India. J Coast Conserv 25(1):1–10

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Solangaarachchi D, Griffin AL, Doherty MD (2012) Social vulnerability in the context of bushfire risk at the urban-bush interface in Sydney: a case study of the Blue Mountains and Ku-ring-gai local council areas. Nat Hazards 64(2):1873–1898

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sudha Rani NNV, Satyanarayana ANV, Bhaskaran PK (2015) Coastal vulnerability assessment studies over India: a review. Nat Hazards 77(1):405–428. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-015-1597-x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Swart R, Biesbroek R, Lourenço TC (2014) Science of adaptation to climate change and science for adaptation. Front Environ Sci 2:29

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tata RJ, Schultz RR (1988) World variation in human welfare: a new index of development status. Ann Assoc Am Geogr 78(4):580–593

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • UNFCCC (2015) Report of the conference of the parties on its twenty-first session, held in Paris from 30 November to 13 December 2015. Addendum. Part two: action taken by the conference of the parties at its twenty-first session. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Bonn

    Google Scholar 

  • USAID (2009) Adapting to coastal climate change: a guidebook for development planners. US Agency for International Development, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Wong PP, Losada IJ, Gattuso J-P, Hinkel J, Khattabi A, McInnes KL, Saito Y, Sallenger A (2014) Coastal systems and low-lying areas. In: Field CB, Barros VR, Dokken DJ, Mach KJ, Mastrandrea MD, Bilir TE, Chatterjee M, Ebi KL, Estrada YO, Genova RC, Girma B, Kissel ES, Levy AN, MacCracken S, Mastrandrea PR, White LL (eds) Climate change 2014: impacts, adaptation, and vulnerability. Part A: global and sectoral aspects. Contribution of Working Group II to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge/New York, pp 361–409

    Google Scholar 

  • World Economic Forum (ed) (2019) The global risks report 2019, 14th edn. World Economic Forum, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environment, Education & Development, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK

    Mehebub Sahana

  2. Department of Geography, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India

    Sufia Rehman, Raihan Ahmed & Haroon Sajjad

  3. Department of Geography, University of Burdwan, Bardhaman, West Bengal, India

    Shyamal Dutta

  4. Department of Geography, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India

    Samsad Parween

Authors
  1. Mehebub Sahana
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sufia Rehman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Shyamal Dutta
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Samsad Parween
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Raihan Ahmed
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Haroon Sajjad
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geography and Environment, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka, Bangladesh

    Md. Nazrul Islam

  2. Environmental Systems Analysis SENSE Research School, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    André van Amstel

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2021 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Sahana, M., Rehman, S., Dutta, S., Parween, S., Ahmed, R., Sajjad, H. (2021). Evaluating Adaptation Strategies to Coastal Multihazards in Sundarban Biosphere Reserve, India, Using Composite Adaptation Index: A Household-Level Analysis. In: Islam, M.N., van Amstel, A. (eds) India: Climate Change Impacts, Mitigation and Adaptation in Developing Countries. Springer Climate. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-67865-4_5

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation