Impact of climate change in Bangladesh : water logging at south-west coast

Abstract

Bangladesh is a densely populated, agriculture-based country and is recognized as one of the areas most vulnerable to the impacts of global warming and climate change. This is due to its unique geographic location, dominance of floodplains, low elevation, high population density, high levels of poverty, and overwhelming dependence on nature for its resources and services. The country experiences severe flood and cyclone events and, in recent years, water logging has become a catastrophic problem along the coast. These coastal areas play important economic and environmental roles in the country. The present paper attempts to show the extent of water logged areas, caused by sea level rise and the sectoral impacts of settlement, agriculture and fisheries in the south-western coastal areas of Bangladesh. A multi-temporal analysis method has been used with remote sensing (LandSat 1975 and LandSat 2000) data. SRTM data has been used to show the actual land elevation and to predict the future height of water logging in the study area. In 2000, 182418 hectares area was inundated by water and almost 50 percent of the study area is classified having high vulnerability. Saline line has entered upto 20 to 35 km into the mainland since 1967 which has great impact on agriculture and health. Many educational institutions of the study area are in vulnerable condition as some of them inundated completely or partially and even some of them are being used as shelter by local victimized due to water logged into their fragile houses. The largest mangrove forest of the world is also at risk to water logging and saline intrusion from the sea. To the Government of Bangladesh, NGOs, policymakers, planners and other interested parties it is important to measure and monitor present issues and to predict the future impacts of climate change. This will help to facilitate effective management and is particularly important where a lagre number of people are threatened. In this regard the present study is expected to be useful and will have strong implications in coastal planning and other climate change adaptation measures.