Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Vulnerabilities of River Erosion–Affected Coastal Communities in Bangladesh: a Menu of Alternative Livelihood Options

  • Published:
Global Social Welfare Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In the context of generally limited research on the subject, this study aims to (i) unravel the nature, forms, and manifestations of socioeconomic and psychological vulnerabilities of the river erosion–affected coastal communities in Bangladesh and (ii) suggest a number of alternative livelihood options in order to reduce the vulnerabilities. It draws on a mixed-method approach. The fieldwork was conducted in three unions representing three upazilas (sub-districts) of the Bhola District. Quantitative data were collected using a structured interview schedule from 371 household heads, while the qualitative data were generated through in-depth case interviews, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews. The results show that the river erosion wreaked havoc on the communities’ physical resources and increased their psychosocial vulnerabilities such as forced displacement, social insecurity, food insecurity, breakdown of socio-cultural bondage and networks, and decreased social esteem. The lack of livelihood options coupled with poor and fragile household conditions contribute to the reduced ability of the communities to cope with the post-disaster problems. The low level of participation of the river erosion–affected people in disaster construction, planning, and programs results in a weakened state of community resilience which further increases vulnerability in the future. Based on the overall observations of the study, a number of community-led alternative livelihood options are then suggested including adoption of innovative production and processing measures, formation of self-help groups, entrepreneurship development, priority basis livelihood options based on local context, and use of indigenous knowledge and skills-based coping strategies. The findings may provide useful lessons and ameliorative clues to the policy makers, and (disaster and development) practitioners.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adger, W. N. (2006). Vulnerability. Global Environmental Change, 16(3), 268–281.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ahmadi, K. S. (2018). What is a self-help group? https://psychcentral.com/lib/what-is-a-self-help- group/.

  • Amos, E., Akpan, U., & Ogunjobi, K. (2015). Households’ perception and livelihood vulnerability to climate change in a coastal area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 17(4), 887–908.

    Google Scholar 

  • Akhter, S., Eibek, K. U., Islam, S., Islam, A. R. M. T., Chu, R., & Shuanghe, S. (2019). Predicting spatiotemporal changes of channel morphology in the reach of Teesta River, Bangladesh using GIS and ARIMA modeling. Quaternary International, 513, 80–94.

    Google Scholar 

  • Akter, T. (2014). Alternative livelihood options for vulnerable women in climate change affected flood prone areas. BRAC working paper, Dhaka, Bangladesh. https://doi.org/10.13140/rg.2.1.2411.4726.

  • Alam, G. M., Alam, K., Mushtaq, S., & Clarke, M. L. (2017). Vulnerability to climatic change in riparian char and river-bank households in Bangladesh: implication for policy, livelihoods and social development. Ecological Indicators, 72, 23–32.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baboule, B. Z., Aziem, B. B., & Roose, E. (1994). Erosion impact on crop productivity on sandy soils of northern Cameroon. In L. S. Bhushan, et al. (Eds.), Soil and water conservation: challenges and opportunities (pp. 80–89). Dehra Dun: Indian Association of Soil and Water Conservationists.

  • Bergstrand, K., Mayer, B., Brumback, B., & Zhang, Y. (2015). Assessing the relationship between social vulnerability and community resilience to hazards. Social Indicators Research, 122(2), 391–409.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boehm, C. E., Flaaen, A., & Pandalai-Nayar, N. (2019). Input linkages and the transmission of shocks: firm-level evidence from the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake. Review of Economics and Statistics, 101(1), 60–75.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bordoloi, K., Nikam, B. R., Srivastav, S. K., & Sahariah, D. (2020). Assessment of riverbank erosion and erosion probability using geospatial approach: a case study of the Subansiri River, Assam, India. Applied Geomatics, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12518-019-00296-1.

  • Cannon, T. (1994). Vulnerability analysis and the explanation of “natural” disasters, in A Varley, (ed.) Disasters, Development and Environment, John Wiley and Sons Chichester, New York, Brisbane, Toronto and Singapore, pp.13–29.

  • Carvalho, V. M. (2014). From micro to macro via production networks. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 28(4), 23–48.

    Google Scholar 

  • Canino, G. J., Bravo, M., Rubio-Stipec, M., & Woodbury, M. (1990). The impact of disaster on mental health: Perspectives and retrospective analyses. International Journal of Mental Health, 19, 51–59.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dilley, M., & Boudreau, T. E. (2001). Coming to terms with vulnerability: a critique of the food security definition. Food Policy, 26(3), 229–247.

    Google Scholar 

  • Displacement Solutions & Young Power in Social Action (YPSA) (2014). Climate displacement in Bangladesh: stakeholders, laws and policies-mapping the existing institutional framework. Displacement Solutions & Young Power in Social Action (YPSA), Dhaka.

  • Dragićević, S., & Stepić, M. (2006). Changes of the intensity of Ljig river basin erosion: Influence of anthropogenic factor. Bulletin of the Serbian Geographical Society, 86(2), 37–44.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dominelli, L. (2015). The opportunities and challenges of social work interventions in disaster situations. International Social Work, 58(5), 659–672.

    Google Scholar 

  • Drolet, J., Dominelli, L., Alston, M., Ersing, R., Mathbor, G., & Wu, H. (2015). Women rebuilding lives post-disaster: innovative community practices for building resilience and promoting sustainable development. Gender & Development, 23(3), 433–448.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fulton, A. E., & Drolet, J. (2018). Responding to disaster-related loss and grief: Recovering from the 2013 flood in southern Alberta. Canada. Journal of Loss and Trauma, 23(2), 140–158.

    Google Scholar 

  • Füssel, H. M. (2007). Vulnerability: A generally applicable conceptual framework for climate change research. Global Environmental Change, 17(2), 155–167.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gain, A. K., Mojtahed, V., Biscaro, C., Balbi, S., & Giupponi, C. (2015). An integrated approach of flood risk assessment in the eastern part of Dhaka City. Natural Hazards, 79(3), 1499–1530.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gallopín, G. C. (2006). Linkages between vulnerability, resilience, and adaptive capacity. Global Environmental Change, 16(3), 293–303.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hesselberg, J., & Yaro, J. A. (2006). An assessment of the extent and causes of food insecurity in northern Ghana using a livelihood vulnerability framework. GeoJournal, 67(1), 41–55.

    Google Scholar 

  • Galbraith, C. S., & Stiles, C. H. (2006). Disasters and entrepreneurship: a short review. International Research in the Business Disciplines, 5, 147–166.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gravgaard, A. K., & Wheeler, W. (2009). Bangladesh fights for survival against climate change. Washington Post, 18.

  • Felsenstein, D., & Lichter, M. (2014). Social and economic vulnerability of coastal communities to sea-level rise and extreme flooding. Natural Hazards, 71(1), 463–491.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grube, L. E., & Storr, V. H. (2018). Embedded entrepreneurs and post-disaster community recovery. Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, 1-22.

  • Haque, C. (1997). Hazards in a fickle environment: Bangladesh. Boston: Kluwer Academic Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hahn, M. B., Riederer, A. M., & Foster, S. O. (2009). The livelihood vulnerability index: a pragmatic approach to assessing risks from climate variability and change—a case study in Mozambique. Global Environmental Change, 19(1), 74–88.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haltiwanger, J., Jarmin, R. S., & Miranda, J. (2013). Who creates jobs? Small versus large versus young. Review of Economics and Statistics, 95(2), 347–361.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hogan, D. J., & Marandola Jr., E. (2005). Towards an interdisciplinary conceptualisation of vulnerability. Population, Space and Place, 11(6), 455–471.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hutton, D., & Haque, C. E. (2003). Patterns of coping and adaptation among erosion-induced displacees in Bangladesh: implications for hazard analysis and mitigation. Natural Hazards, 29(3), 405–421.

    Google Scholar 

  • Islam, M. R. (2018). Climate change, natural disasters and socioeconomic livelihood vulnerabilities: migration decision among the char land people in Bangladesh. Social Indicators Research, 136(2), 575–593.

    Google Scholar 

  • Islam, M. R., & Hossain, D. (2014). Island char resources mobilization (ICRM): changes of livelihoods of vulnerable people in Bangladesh. Social Indicators Research, 117(3), 1033–1054.

    Google Scholar 

  • Islam, M. R., & Hasan, M. (2016). Climate-induced human displacement: a case study of cyclone Aila in the south-west coastal region of Bangladesh. Natural Hazards, 81(2), 1051–1071.

    Google Scholar 

  • Islam, M. R., & Islam, A. K. M. M. (2020). Poverty and social inequality in Bangladesh: regional disparity in particular reference to the sustainable development goals (SDGs). Dhaka, BANBEIS, Ministry of Education: People’s Republic of Bangladesh.

    Google Scholar 

  • Islam, M. R., & Khan, N. A. (2018). Threats, vulnerability, resilience and displacement among the climate change and natural disaster-affected people in South-East Asia: an overview. Journal of the Asia Pacific Economy, 1-27.

  • Islam, M. F., & Rashid, A. B. (2011). Riverbank erosion displaces in Bangladesh: Need for institutional response and policy intervention. Bangladesh Journal of Bioethics, 2(2), 4–19.

    Google Scholar 

  • Islam, M. R., & Shamsuddoha, M. (2017). Socioeconomic consequences of climate induced human displacement and migration in Bangladesh. International Sociology., 32(3), 277–298.

    Google Scholar 

  • Islam, R., & Wahab, G. M. A. (2017). Households’ indigenous coping practices to face disaster- induced food and water challenges in coastal Bangladesh. Folklore Journal, 8, 104–111.

    Google Scholar 

  • Islam, R., & Walkerden, G. (2014). How bonding and bridging networks contribute to disaster resilience and recovery on the Bangladeshi coast. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 10, 281–291.

    Google Scholar 

  • Islam, R., & Walkerden, G. (2015). How do links between households and NGOs promote disaster resilience and recovery? A case study of linking social networks on the Bangladeshi coast. Natural Hazards, 78(3), 1707–1727.

    Google Scholar 

  • Islam, M. A., Hossain, M. S., & Murshed, S. (2015). Assessment of coastal vulnerability due to sea level change at Bhola island, Bangladesh: Using geospatial techniques. Journal of the Indian Society of Remote Sensing, 43(3), 625–637.

    Google Scholar 

  • Islam, R., Walkerden, G., & Amati, M. (2017). Households’ experience of local government during recovery from cyclones in coastal Bangladesh: resilience, equity, and corruption. Natural Hazards, 85(1), 361–378.

    Google Scholar 

  • Islamic Relief. (2018). Vulnerability, social dignity and livelihood choices of the river bank erosion victims in Bhola District in Bangladesh. Dhaka: Islamic Relief.

    Google Scholar 

  • IPCC (2014). Climate change 2014 impacts, adaptation, and vulnerability. Part, B. Regional aspects. Contribution of Working Group II to the Fifth Assessment Report of the IPCC, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA.

  • Kelly, P. M., & Adger, W. N. (2000). Theory and practice in assessing vulnerability to climate change and facilitating adaptation. Climatic Change, 47(4), 325–352.

    Google Scholar 

  • Keya, M. K., & Harun, S. M. R. (2007). Riverbank erosion induced stress and coping of displaced women in Bangladesh. Empowerment, 14, 17–30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelman, I., Mercer, J., & Gaillard, J. C. (2012). Indigenous knowledge and disaster risk reduction. Geography, 97, 12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knutsson, P. E. R., & Ostwald, M. (2006). A process-oriented sustainable livelihoods approach–a tool for increased understanding of vulnerability, adaptation and resilience. Mitigation and adaptation strategies for global change.

  • Krejcie, R. V., & Morgan, D. W. (1970). Determining sample size for research activities. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 30(3), 607–610.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lima, B., Pai, S., Santacruz, H., & Lozano, J. (1991). Psychiatric disorder among poor victims following a major disaster, Armero, Columbia. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 179(7), 420–427.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lucas, D., & Boudreaux, C. (2018). Federal regulation, job creation, and the moderating effect of state economic freedom: Evidence from the United States.

    Google Scholar 

  • Makwana, N. (2019). Disaster and its impact on mental health: a narrative review. Journal of family medicine and primary care, 8(10), 3090–3095.

    Google Scholar 

  • Masud-All-Kamal, M. (2013). Livelihood coping and recovery from disaster: the case of coastal Bangladesh. Cur Res J Soc Sci, 5(1), 35–44.

    Google Scholar 

  • Midha, N., & Mathur, P. K. (2014). Channel characteristics and planform dynamics in the Indian Terai, Sharda River. Environmental Management, 53(1), 120–134.

    Google Scholar 

  • Monllor, J., & Murphy, P. J. (2017). Natural disasters, entrepreneurship, and creation after destruction. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research.

  • Mucherera, B., & Mavhura, E. (2020). Flood survivors’ perspectives on vulnerability reduction to floods in Mbire district, Zimbabwe. Jàmbá: Journal of Disaster Risk Studies, 12(1), 1–12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mallick, D. L., Rahman, A., Alam, M., Juel, A. S. M., Ahmad, A. N., & Alam, S. S. (2005). Case study 3: Bangladesh floods in Bangladesh: A shift from disaster management towards disaster preparedness. IDS Bulletin, 36(4), 53–70.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nikku, B. R. (2015). Living through and responding to disasters: Multiple roles for Social Work. Social Work Education, 34(6), 601–606.

    Google Scholar 

  • Okoroji, U. U. (2018). Disaster risk reduction and local knowledge in flood-prone communities: a Nigerian case study. University of Waterloo: Master's thesis.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oliver-Smith, A. (2004). Theorizing vulnerability in a globalized world: a political ecological perspective. In G. Bankoff, G. Frerks and D. Hilhorst. Eds. Mapping vulnerability: disasters, development & people. Sterling, VA: Earthscan, pp.10-24.

  • Oliver-Smith, A., & Hoffman, S. M. (2002). Introduction: why anthropologists should study disasters. Catastrophe and culture: The anthropology of disaster, 3–22.

  • O’BRIEN, K. A. R. E. N., Eriksen, S., Nygaard, L. P., & Schjolden, A. N. E. (2007). Why different interpretations of vulnerability matter in climate change discourses. Climate Policy, 7(1), 73–88.

  • Paul, S., & Islam, M. R. (2015). Ultra-poor char people’s rights to development and accessibility to public services: a case of Bangladesh. Habitat International, 48, 113–121.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pyles, L. (2017). Decolonising disaster social work: environmental justice and community participation. British Journal of Social Work, 47(3), 630–647.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ribot, J. C. (1995). The causal structure of vulnerability: Its application to climate impact analysis. GeoJournal, 35(2), 119–122.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reddy, S. D. (2000). Factors influencing the incorporation of hazard mitigation during recovery from disaster. Natural Hazards, 22(2), 185–201.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reed, M. S., Podesta, G., Fazey, I., Geeson, N., Hessel, R., Hubacek, K., & Ritsema, C. (2013). Combining analytical frameworks to assess livelihood vulnerability to climate change and analyse adaptation options. Ecological Economics, 94, 66–77.

    Google Scholar 

  • Riede, F. (2014). Eruptions and ruptures-a social network perspective on vulnerability and impact of the Laacher see eruption (c. 13,000 BP) on Late Glacial hunter-gatherers in northern Europe. Archaeological Review from Cambridge, 29(1), 67–102.

    Google Scholar 

  • Riede, F. (2015). Volcanic eruptions and human vulnerability in traditional societies past and present–towards a palaeosocial volcanology. In Past Vulnerability (pp. 9-22). Aarhus Universitetsforlag.

  • Rogge, J., & Elahi, K. (1989). The riverbank impact study: Bangladesh. Winnipeg, Canada: University of Manitoba.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roose, E. (1996). Land husbandry: components and strategy. Rome.

  • Sarwar, M. G. M. (2013). Sea-level rise along the coast of Bangladesh, In Disaster risk reduction approaches in Bangladesh (pp. 217-231). Tokyo: Springer.

  • Shah, K. U., Dulal, H. B., Johnson, C., & Baptiste, A. (2013). Understanding livelihood vulnerability to climate change: applying the livelihood vulnerability index in Trinidad and Tobago. Geoforum, 47, 125–137.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shaw, R., Sharma, A., & Takeuchi, Y. (2009). Indigenous knowledge and disaster risk reduction: from practice to policy. Inc: Nova Science Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shaw, R., Mallick, F., & Islam, A. (Eds.). (2013). Climate change adaptation actions in Bangladesh. New York: Springer.

  • Siagian, T. H., Purhadi, P., Suhartono, S., & Ritonga, H. (2014). Social vulnerability to natural hazards in Indonesia: driving factors and policy implications. Natural Hazards, 70(2), 1603–1617.

    Google Scholar 

  • Simane, B., Zaitchik, B. F., & Foltz, J. D. (2016). Agroecosystem specific climate vulnerability analysis: application of the livelihood vulnerability index to a tropical highland region. Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, 21(1), 39–65.

    Google Scholar 

  • Snover, A. K., Whitely Binder, L. C., Lopez, J., Willmott, E., Kay, J. E., Howell, D., Simmonds, J. (2007). Preparing for climate change: a guidebook for local, regional, and state governments. University of Washington Climate Impacts Group and King County, Washington, in association with and published by ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, Oakland, CA.

  • Tan, N. T., & Yuen, F. (2013). Social work, strengths perspective, and disaster management: Roles of social workers and models for intervention (Editorial). Journal of Social Work in Disability & Rehabilitation, 2(1–2), 1–7.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thakur, P. K., Laha, C., & Aggarwal, S. P. (2012). River bank erosion hazard study of river Ganga, upstream of Farakka barrage using remote sensing and GIS. Natural Hazards, 61(3), 967–987.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tapsell, S., McCarthy, S., Faulkner, H., & Alexander, M. (2010). Social vulnerability to natural hazards. State of the art report from CapHaz-Net’s WP4. London.

  • Thapa, M. B., Luintel, Y. R., Gauchan, B., & Amatya, K. (2009). Indigenous knowledge on disaster mitigation: towards creating complementarity between communities’ and scientists’ knowledge. Indigenous Knowledge for Disaster Risk Reduction, 30.

  • Turton, C. (2000). The sustainable livelihoods approach and programme development in Cambodia. London: Overseas Development Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Uddin, M., & Rahman, A. A. (2011). Techniques to implement in green data centres to achieve energy efficiency and reduce global warming effects. International Journal of Global Warming, 3(4), 372–389.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wisner, B., Blaikie, P. M., Cannon, T., & Davis, I. (2004). At risk: natural hazards, people’s vulnerability, and disasters (2nd ed.). Routledge: London.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank all of the household heads of the Bhola District in Bangladesh who took part in this study and recognize their deep commitment to community.

Funding

Funding support provided by the Islamic Relief Bangladesh.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Social Welfare and Research, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh

    M. Rezaul Islam

  2. Department of Development Studies, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh

    Niaz Ahmed Khan

  3. Department of South East Asian Studies, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    Md Mohsin Reza

  4. Department of Social Work, Jagannath University, Dhaka, Bangladesh

    Md Mohsin Reza

  5. Democracy International, Dhaka, Bangladesh

    Munshi Mahabubur Rahman

Authors
  1. M. Rezaul Islam
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Niaz Ahmed Khan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Md Mohsin Reza
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Munshi Mahabubur Rahman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. Rezaul Islam.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of Interest

The authors declares that they have no conflict of interest.

Informed Consent

This study was approved by the Islamic Relief Bangladesh, and we followed their protocols related to informed consent for participation in this research. Each participant in this study was spoken to, and given a document about informed consent, explaining their rights as participants at the time of the interviews and contact information if further questions or concerns should arise.

All participants signed a written informed consent form, or, if they were illiterate, were read the consent form and provided their fingerprint with a witness signature.

Ethical Approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the Islamic Relief Bangladesh and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Islam, M.R., Khan, N.A., Reza, M.M. et al. Vulnerabilities of River Erosion–Affected Coastal Communities in Bangladesh: a Menu of Alternative Livelihood Options. Glob Soc Welf 7, 353–366 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40609-020-00185-1

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40609-020-00185-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation