BANGLADESH CASE STUDY
SEPTEMBER 2010
COMMUNITY BASED ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE THROUGH COASTAL
AFFORESTATION IN BANGLADESH (CBACC-CF PROJECT)
Country
Bangladesh [http://www.adaptationlearning.net/country-profiles/bd]
Region
South Asia
Key Result
Area
Natural Resource Management
Coastal Zone Management
Disaster Risk Reduction
Project ID
3873
Project
Activity Dates
Start: 2008
End: 2012
Key
Stakeholders
Local communities in the Punakha-Wangdue and Chamkhar Valleys of Bangladesh.
ABSTRACT
Vulnerability in Bangladesh is worsened due to the high dependence of a majority of the population on climatesensitive sectors, such as agriculture, forestry and fisheries. Compounding these vulnerabilities, Bangladesh is
challenged with weak infrastructure facilities, institutional mechanisms and a lack of financial resources. Given
the general lack of institutional capacity to systematically identify and address climate-driven changes in risk
patterns, the Government of Bangladesh is implementing a project to reduce the vulnerability of coastal
communities to climate change-induced risks in 4 coastal districts. The project is based on enhancing the
resilience of coastal communities and protective ecosystems through community-led adaptation interventions.
Efforts are also being made to enhance national, sub-national, and local capacities of government authorities and
planners to understand climate risk dynamics in coastal areas. In short, the project is focusing on reviewing and
revising coastal management practices and policies to increase community resilience to climate change impacts
in coastal areas. Project outcomes include developing a functional system for the collection, distribution and
internalization of climate-related knowledge. Key lessons learned from the project thus far indicate the need to
actively involve stakeholders from different government departments and ensure on-going cooperation and
consistent support between the stakeholders and the government.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ISSUES
Background
The National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA) and the Initial National Communication (INC) established that a weak
economy and widespread poverty in Bangladesh has contributed to low adaptive capacity to withstand the adverse impacts of
climate change. The vulnerability context of climate change for coastal areas of Bangladesh is related to gradual changes in
the physical system and climate change-related extreme weather events. The gradual change phenomena in the physical
system include changes in salinity concentration in the surface water and soil, coastal inundation, and drainage congestion.
Changes in intensity and the frequency of tropical cyclones and storm surges will occur, as will changes in tidal height.
Compared to inland areas, physical vulnerability is high toward the coasts, which are more exposed to the different
vulnerability factors. Effective adaptation of coastal communities therefore requires effective policies, capacity development,
and specific interventions that directly tackle the issue of risks posed by climate change, including variability.
Agriculture, fisheries, forestry and forestry products, and livestock are the primary sources of rural livelihoods of the coastal
communities. All these sectors are vulnerable both to gradual change phenomena and extreme weather events related to
climate change. Coastal and marine fishing communities are also vulnerable to the changing intensity of cyclones, even if they
do not fall on land. Coastal settlements exposed to the sea are severely prone to cyclones and storm surges. A wellmaintained coastal greenbelt with adequate buffer zones can reduce vulnerability and protect settlements. At the same time,
forestry products provide substantial livelihood support and meet a portion of domestic needs. Community participation to
manage coastal afforestation and a long-term agreement between the Forest Department and Ministry of Land is necessary to
maintain the coastal greenbelt and effective buffer zones. The introduction of alternative livelihood options creates new
potential for sustainable income sources and is also necessary to relieve some of the pressure on forestry resources in the
coastal area.
Problem
Coastal communities are highly resource poor and extremely vulnerable to anticipated climate induced threats. Given the
general lack of institutional capacity to systematically identify and address climate-driven changes in risk patterns, the
Government of Bangladesh is proposing a project to reduce the vulnerability of coastal communities to climate change-induced
risks in 4 coastal districts (Barguna, Patuakhali, Bhola, Noakhali, and Chittagong) under 4 coastal forest divisions. The project
is based on the following components:
Enhancing the resilience of coastal communities and protective ecosystems through community-led adaptation interventions,
focusing on coastal afforestation and livelihood diversification; Enhancing national, sub-national, and local capacities of
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Successful Practice
Key Successes
National capacity enhanced through institutionalization and
environmental management.
What Factors
Supported
Success
Regarding political and institutional sustainability, the project has strong government support at the
central, district, and local levels.
mainstreaming of sustainable
Relevant
Information
Various stakeholders from the government and civil society were involved in the NAPA process, and
several of those agencies are keen on carrying forward the implementation of the top identified
priorities.
government authorities and planners to understand climate risk dynamics in coastal areas and implement appropriate risk
reduction measures; Reviewing and revising coastal management practices and policies to increase community resilience to
climate change impacts in coastal areas; and Developing a functional system for the collection, distribution and internalization
of climate-related knowledge.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT
Solution: Adaptation Approach, Components and Description
The overall objective of the Community Based Adaptation to Climate Change through Coastal Afforestation in Bangladesh
(CBACC-CF) project is to reduce vulnerability of coastal communities to the impacts of climate change-induced risks in four
vulnerable Coastal Forest Districts (CFD). The four districts are: Raipur of Anwara Upazila of Chittagong CFD; Sukhchar of
Hatia Upazila of Noakhali CFD; Char Kukri-Mukri of Char Fassion Upazila of Bhola CFD; and Naltuna of Barguna Sadar
Upazila of Patuakhali CFD.
The CBACC-CF project highlights the sustainable livelihood need responsive policy implementation to increase the adaptive
capacity of these highly vulnerable coastal communities through incorporating recurrent income generation options to sustain
livelihoods. The proposed project will employ a feedback loop between the four main project components and enable
successful community-based adaptation approaches in coastal areas to be analyzed and replicated in other vulnerable
regions, both within and outside of Bangladesh.
The project will implement community-based climate risk reduction measures in targeted communities that are especially
vulnerable to climate change. In particular, the project will ensure that buffer zone measures promoted by ongoing projects
take anticipated climate change risks into account. The project will facilitate diversification of livelihoods and alternative
employment opportunities in order to reduce threats to existing and new coastal buffer zones and make longer term protective
measures viable. Developing secure sources of potable water for communities vulnerable to saline intrusion as a result of
frequent climate-induced flooding is another key output of the project. Innovative mechanisms such as rainwater harvesting,
micro surface and ground water treatment facilities will be piloted and demonstrated for up-scaling over time. The project will
also develop capacities at the national and community levels to better integrate climate change risk into development planning
processes. Training policymakers at the national level to integrate climate risks into coastal zone planning will serve to ensure
that priorities outlined in the National Communications to the UNFCCC and in the NAPA can be appropriately addressed.
Integrating climate change risks into legislation related to coastal zoning regulations and facilitating alignment of existing
coastal management programmes will build climate resilience. Finally, information flows are being improved between climate
monitoring, forecasting and early warning services to communities in coastal areas.
PROJECT CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS
Major Challenges
The risk of climate change-induced damage to human and economic development in coastal areas of Bangladesh is mounting.
The combined effects of sea-level rise and subsidence, changes in upstream river discharge, increased frequency and
intensity of tropical cyclones, and erosion of coastal embankments pose a serious threat to the natural resource base and
livelihood opportunities of coastal communities. The existing disaster management framework in Bangladesh is largely
organized to deal with recurrent and rapid onset extreme events, whereas coastal zones in Bangladesh are also confronted
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with a range of “creeping” climate risks, such as increasing salinity trends in coastal freshwater resources, growing drainage
congestions, dynamic changes in coastal morphology and a decline in the functioning of protective ecosystems.
LESSONS LEARNED
Results and Learning
Progress to date: In a poverty stricken coastal zone, land and farming are the limiting factors for poverty alleviation where
rational use of land comes to the fore. The major contribution of Fish, Fruit and Forest (FFF) model is that it ensures livelihood
security by accommodating 15 families/ha and appears as one of the pioneering rational land use model for a highly land
scarce country like Bangladesh. Besides, in terms of rational income, the outcome of the model is highly rational for
participating communities because it provides two to threefold added income in addition to their routine livelihood activities.
FFF Model differs in that it comprises the following Early, Mid-term, Mid/long-term and Long-term resource generation options
for livelihood security of coastal communities. It provides opportunity to grow large number of improved variety vegetables on
the 2.7m × 86.7m long top surface of the mound. Moreover, further expansion is possible through special supporting
arrangements (scaffold) on the margins of ditch to support hanging vegetables for growing country bean, cucumber, bottle,
bitter and sweet gourds (cucurbitaceous vegetables) and other creeper vegetables.
Key lessons learned:
1. Involve stakeholders from different government departments to create appropriate adaptation measures: Identifying
different needs and implementing them with multiple perspectives. Given the multitude of stakeholders, integrated
communication and coordination will be key to success. The project aims to address these potential risks by coordinating
closely with ongoing activities of the government and International Union for Conservation of Nature.
2. Ensure that there is on-going cooperation and consistent support between the stakeholders and the government:
Communication with stakeholders, project team, sponsors and people of Bangladesh. In the absence of an integrated coastal
development strategy which incorporates climate risks for the Government to utilize over the coming decades, the current set
of ad-hoc activities is unlikely to address emerging climate change, including variability, problems coherently. There is a need
to develop strategies based on existing opportunities, understanding of the level of climatic risks, political and economic
feasibility of adaptation to climate change response options.
3. Involve district authorities and local communities at an early stage of project design: Involving local residents in
various stages of the project has been beneficial. Awareness-raising of projected impacts and potential solutions has been
conducted through local media and other appropriate channels.
4. Identify risk management/ vulnerability and areas for synergies with other sectors during the initial stages of the
project: Identify complementarities and establish linkages with other programmes and sectors (e.g. disaster risk
management). The project will further generate adaptation benefits by facilitating the integration of climate risk into existing
poverty reduction and rural development strategies, especially as they pertain to coastal regions.
Mainstreaming Components
The proposed project is directly aligned with Bangladesh’s priorities for development as articulated in several policy
documents. Climate change and related extreme events are recognized as major impediments to growth in recently developed
policy documents such as the Coastal Zone Policy. This project will contribute towards mainstreaming climate risks into these
documents. The National Water Policy has recognized that it is necessary to reduce the knowledge gap for addressing climate
change impacts in water sector. Bangladesh’s PRSP recognizes the direct links between poverty and risks of natural hazards:
“Given the risk and vulnerability to natural hazards that are likely to continue as a serious threat to national development
efforts, macro level policies for disaster risk reduction, mitigation and management must be adopted in view of alleviating
disaster-induced poverty”. It has also proposed a comprehensive and anticipatory approach “… to reduce vulnerability to
natural, environmental and human induced hazards through community empowerment and integration of sustainable risk
management initiatives in all development programs and projects”.
National capacity is enhanced through institutionalization and mainstreaming of sustainable environmental management.
Regarding political and institutional sustainability, the project has strong government support at the central, district, and local
levels. Various stakeholders from the government and civil society were involved in the NAPA process, and several of those
agencies are keen on carrying forward the implementation of the top identified priorities. The long-term viability of the project
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will depend greatly on institutional coordination. This will be achieved through capacity building at all levels, following the
principle of using this initiative to help mainstream climate change and climate-resilient development, rather than viewing the
project as a short-term activity.
Sustainability
The recurrent income generation from continuous flow of resources will increase the adaptive capacity of the coastal people
and such recurrent livelihood support might sustain the Fish, Fruit and Forest (FFF) model in any anticipated stressed
conditions, induced by climate change. Additional measures necessary to ensure the sustainability of the proposed
interventions, including those that focus on management and technical capacity, will be identified and incorporated into the
project design. The project design will be informed by an in-depth root-cause analysis which will be guided by the principles of
the UNDP APF. This approach will ensure that the implementation of the NAPA priority profiles is not undertaken in isolation
but contributes to ongoing activities by government and other donors who are actively working towards coastal development.
Institutional linkages will be strengthened, and community-based adaptation measures will include innovative mechanisms for
sustainable livelihoods, which in turn will enhance the sustainability of project outcomes. The capacity-building components of
the project will empower stakeholders at all levels—from community members to district authorities to policymakers—with a
greater understanding of climate change risks, adaptation options, and enhanced adaptive capacity.
Replicability
In regards to replicability and integration, the project will further generate adaptation benefits by facilitating the integration of
climate risk into existing poverty reduction and rural development strategies, especially as they pertain to coastal regions.
Once the project demonstrates the viability of adaptation interventions and effectively builds national and local adaptive
capacity, there will be opportunities for further up scaling and replication in other coastal sites exposed to climate-induced
hazards. Learning is ensured through activities in Outcome 4, including contributions to the Adaptation Learning Mechanism,
so that government ministries and other organizations will have access to new knowledge and resources developed through
the project. National and international dialogue forums will provide opportunities for identifying similarly vulnerable areas within
and outside of Bangladesh. The approach used will be replicated in other non-coastal areas where climate change-induced
risks are very high, for example, the haors, or low-lying floodplain depressions located mostly in the north-eastern region of the
country and covering about 25% of the entire region. In the northeast, flash floods have been occurring earlier in the season
and with increasing intensity, causing much damage to crops and livelihoods.
Funding
GEF Project Grant LDCF (CEO Endorsement): US$3,300,000
Co-financing Total (CEO Endorsement): US$7,100,000
Project Cost (CEO Endorsement): US$10,500,000
Time Frame
2008-2012
Profile Created: July 2010
References used: PIF Document (Revised), PPG Document, Endorsement Letter from Government, Project Appraisal
Document (for CEO Endorsement), Request for CEO Endorsement, Project Identification Form – 3 April 2007, and
http://www.gefonline.org/projectDetailsSQL.cfm?projID=3287 and http://sdnhq.undp.org/gefadaptation/projects/websites/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=263
Acknowledgements: This case study is produced by the Adaptation Learning Mechanism (ALM). The ALM team would like
to gratefully acknowledge the participation and support from the Regional Technical Advisor, Gernot Laganda, and the
valuable input of the Felicity Woodhams, Climate Change Adaptation Associate Officer at the UNDP Regional Centre in
Bangkok.
Contact Information:
Regional Technical Advisor: Mr. Gernot Laganda, gernot.laganda@undp.org
UNDP Country Counterpart, Mr. Aminul Islam, aminul.islam@undp.org, and Mr. Paramesh Nanady, pm.cbacc@gmail.com
Adaptation Learning Mechanism: www.adaptationlearning.net
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