THE CHALLENGES FOR LAW AND GOVERNANCE IN ADAPTING TO
CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENHANCING LIVELIHOODS AND THE
PROVISION OF ECOSYSTEM SERVICES IN THE OCEANFRESHWATER INTERFACE OF GANGES-BRAHMAPUTRA-MEGHNA
(GBM) DELTA
The Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna (GBM) delta is one of the world’s most significant
deltas. The delta is characterized by densely populated coastal lowlands and significant
poverty. Rural livelihoods in the delta rely significantly on the ecosystem services
provided by natural ecosystems such as the Sundarbans (the largest mangrove forest in
the world). The well-being of inhabitants at the delta’s ocean-freshwater interface is
increasingly impacted by global sea-level rise; unseasonal drought and flooding;
subsidence, sediment starvation and salination caused by up-stream activities;
increased natural disasters and climate unpredictability linked to global climate change.
The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment provided a significant synthesis of the
consequences of ecosystem change for human well-being. Despite this the importance of
ecosystem services to livelihoods is still poorly understood. This is due to the
complexity of interactions between physical drivers, environmental pressures, human
responses to such pressures and the resultant impacts on ecosystems.
This paper identifies the legal and governance challenges of ensuring equitable access to
ecosystem services for the reduction of poverty in the GBM in the face of climate change.
This analysis is conducted in the context of the multi-level, multi-sector institutional
structures of the GBM with a particular focus on the Khulna and Barisal Divisions of
Bangladesh. The legal, institutional and governance context at each level of political
organization is examined to identify the benefits and challenges of implementing
adaptive legal measures. This research forms part of an integrated assessment that
examines the physical, ecological and social dimensions of the GBM Delta. The paper
urges the consideration of law and governance in the broader social and environmental
context to achieve effective and sustainable management of social-ecological systems.
This research is conducted in conjunction with the ESPA Deltas project and is jointly
funded by DfID, NERC and ESRC.