Research Proposal
A STUDY ON LOCAL COMMUNITIES OF SUNDARBANS: THEIR SOCIO ECONOMIC STATUS, RELIANCE ON NATURAL RESOURCES AND DYNAMICS OF LIVELIHOOD
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Table of contents
| Title | Page no. |
| List of Figure | 1 |
| Abstract | 2 |
| 1.0 Introduction | 2 |
| 1.1 Problem Statement | 2-3 |
| 1.2 Objectives of the Study | 3 |
| 1.3 Literature Review | 3-4 |
| 1.4 Scope of the study | 4 |
| 2.0 Methodology | 4-6 |
| 2.1 Study area | 4 |
| 2.2 Sampling Procedure and Methods of Data Collection | 5 |
| 2.3 Data analysis plan | 5 |
| 2.4 Proposed timeframe | 6 |
| 3.0 Conclusion | 6 |
| 3.1 Bibliography | 6-7 |
List of Figure
| No. | Title | Page no. |
| 1. | Location of Koyra Upazilla | 5 |
Abstract
This study will be conducted in Koyra Upazila of Bangladesh. The objective of this study is to assess the current socio economic status and livelihood dynamics of southwest villagers who rely on ecosystem services. Both qualitative and quantitative approach will be applied to conduct the study. Stratified random sampling technique will be used to find out the sample size of the study. A structured questionnaire will be prepared to survey the households. Focus Group Discussion and interviews will be conducted to explore more detail information. Local communities in mangroves earn their livelihood mostly by depending on the natural resources but climate change and population pressure is shrinking the forest lands gradually. This study will help to understand the socioeconomic condition and related problems of forest fringe people.
Introduction
Sundarbans recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. The Sundarbans is the world’s largest coastal mangrove forest, with an area of approximately 10,000 sq. km of which approximately 6,000 sq. km is situated in Bangladesh and approximately 4,000 sq. km is in India (Giri et al.,2007). This Mangrove forest plays an important role in both the national and local economy (Uddin,2014; Alongi, 2008).
Mangroves act as harbour of vast biodiversity and species which is source of food, fodder, fuel, raw materials etc. (Gopal, 2006). People who lives near Sundarbans earn their livelihood depending on agriculture, fishing and prawn-seed collection, wood collection, honey and other Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFP) collection like tannin, gum, resin, wild fruits, leaves and tree parts as primary medicines (Datta et al., 2011). At present Bangladesh has 11.2% forestland (ADPC, 2016) where the country lost 3.5% forest cover between 1990 and 2010 (FAO, 2010). The environment and people is impacting greatly for the reason of shrinking of forest land and its resources (Mondal, 2015). Livelihood strategies associated with social and economic changes. About 2% of total labor of Bangladesh earn their livelihood from forest sector (BBS, 2014). The key is to know about how the changes in forest lands is effecting on the livelihood of people.
1.1 Problem statement
Mangroves play an important role to protect the coastal areas from extreme events like cyclone, tsunami, storm surge etc. (Barua, 2010; Stolton, 2008). However, Climate change impacts on all sectors, especially its impact felts on natural resources like water, agriculture, forests and coastal zones.
The number of climatic extreme events has increased in alarming rate due to climate change (Huq & Hugé, 2010). Climate change and global warming is impacting on global ecosystem largely which will be the reason of losing many plant and animal species in future if global average temperature rises more than 1.5 to 2.5 °C (IPCC, 2007). Sundarbans is also under threat of climate change induced challenges (Mondal, 2015). Sundarbans will be reduced from 60% to 30% by the year 2100 which will reduce the forest production and put in threat the forest dependant livelihood economy (CEGIS, 2006).
Population of Bangladesh is increasing in alarming rate though the area is remaining the same (BBS, 2011). The surplus population is encroaching the forest land for living. Therefore, the forest land area is decreasing in alarming rate because of illegal deforestation and setting unplanned settlement. Forests are gradually transformed into pastures, plantations and cultivated fields (Rahman et al., 2007).
Satkhira district is already prone to frequent disasters like flood, salinity intrusion etc. In this situation forest shrinking will minimize the production of natural resources which will impact their livelihood and economy in an alarming rate (DDM, 2014). The study is expected to bring the socio economic problem of forest land people into light.
1.2 Objectives of the study
The main objective of this study is to assess the current socio economic condition of local people lives in Koyra upazila near Sundarbans.
Other specific objectives of this study are
– to find out the reliance of local communities on Sundarbans resources.
– to understand the dynamics of ecosystem services to the livelihood of local residents.
– to explore the problems associated with the livelihood of people near Sundarbans.
1.3 Literature review
The study of Datta et al. (2010) shows that Sundarbans mangroves contains natural resources which can be utilized for the maintenance of the livelihood of forest surrounded villagers.
Getzner and Islam (2013) studied on natural resources, livelihoods, and reserve management of Sundarbans forest. They found that forest fringe residents utilize the ecosystem services in two ways, one is earning cash income by selling the resources (fishing, honey collection) and another one is using natural resources for their own (food, fresh water, timber).
Islam et al. (2015) conducted a survey on fry collectors at Shyamnagar upazila which is situated adjacent to Sundarban. The study found that the peak season of fry collection is March to May. About half of respondents remains engage in fishing during off season. The other preferable alternative income sources are sustainable agriculture, fry nursing, poultry farming, fishing, livestock etc.
Mondal (2015) examined the population and land cover dynamics of the Sundarbans from 1973 to 2010. He found that, water bodies, barren land and vegetated land reduced by 7.35%, 49.56% and 15.92% respectively while grass land increased by 228.14% during 1973 to 2010. However, both population size and vegetated land declined during 2001 and 2011 due to two major cyclones. As a result, out migration and forest destruction occurred during the period. He concluded that population growth, climate change and anthropogenic interventions are playing a decisive role to the depletion of forest resources in Sundarbans.
Nath et al 2003 studied on Khasia tribe in Northwestern Bangladesh to explore their role in forest conservation. Khasia people earn their livelihood through hill farming in forest land where their economy is mainly based on forest. They found that this types of farming play important role in forest conservation and biodiversity.
Rahman and Begum, 2011 analysed the land cover change of homestead, fallow land, water bodies and mangrove vegetation around Sundarbans. They found that fallow land dropped 49% to 29% but water bodies increased 10% during 1980 to 2009. The reason behind this is sea level rising causing salinity intrusion which changing the fallow lands into shrimp farming. On the other hand, due to increasing rate of population agricultural and non-agricultural lands converted by homestead.
1.4 Scope of the study
As the study will be conducted on socio economic status of forest fringe people, it will reveal the level of their exposure to climate change and deforestation. The study will also link the fact with their social and economic change to propose a sustainable livelihood approach. The study will help out to make people concern and educate, particularly who involved in this field.
2.Research methodology
2.1 Study area
The study will be conducted at Koyra Upazila of Khulna district to analyze the local residents socio economic condition. Koyra upazilla lies near the Bay of Bangal and Sundarbans Mangrove forests. This Upazila has 7 Union and 131 villages with an area of approximately 1775.41 sq. km. (BBS, 2008). The location has been chosen for this study due its close proximity near Sundarbans. Also a limited number of research has been done on the socio economic status of its residents. A stratified random sampling technique will be applied to find the sample size. 4 Union will be selected primarily at random then villages and households will be selected by applying the technique. Figure 1: Location of Koyra Upazilla.
2.2 Sampling Procedure and Methods of Data Collection
Both qualitative and qualitative research technique will be adopted for this research. A structured questionnaire will be prepared to collect socio economic data from field. The respondents will be asked for basic information, monthly income, income sources, land ownership etc. The qualitative study will be performed using Participatory Assessment (PA) tools. At least one Focus Group Discussion (FGD) in each selected village will be performed with the farmers using a semi structured questionnaire to get more detail information about their livelihood strategies, problems, transport system, alternative income source during off season, usage of natural resources, product demand and market price etc.
Interview with officials of the Forest Department of the Khulna Forest Division and targeted stakeholder will also be done to better understanding the linkages between ecosystem services, livelihood and prevailing practices. To fulfill the objective of the study both primary and secondary data is needed. Primary data will be collected from qualitative and quantitative survey. Secondary data on the forestland people will be based on existing literature and reports.
2.3 Data analysis plan
The primary information will be collected and compiled. The data obtained from the survey method will be analyzed statistically by using statistical computer software IBM SPSS. Then the analyzed data will be presented as tables and graphs. The findings will be compared and explained with results from secondary source as well as findings from the FGDs and interviews with forest department officials. Finally, I will give my own explanation and infer on the basis of the findings and analysis.
2.4 Proposed timeframe
Serial No | Tasks | Months |
1. | Literature review and questionnaire preparation | 1-2 |
2. | Collection of field data | 1-2 |
3. | Analysis by SPSS | 1 |
4. | Writing the thesis | 1-2 |
Conclusion
The proposed topic of the research can bring out a new issue that is needed to be focused. The study will disclose the socio-economic condition of people who earn their livelihood depending on ecosystem services. The study is mainly focused on forest land people which will help and inspire to conduct further study on their livelihood strategies by the experts in the field of forestry.
3.1 Bibliography
Asian Development Bank, (2016), NewDelhi, India.
Alongi, D.M. (2008) Mangrove forests: resilience, protection from tsunamis, and responses to global climate change. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 76:1–13.
Barua P., Chowdhury S.N., Sarkar S. (2010). Climate change and its risk reduction by mangrove ecosystem of Bangladesh. Bangladesh Res. Publications J. 4:208–225.
(Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics). (2014). Statistical pocketbook of Bangladesh-2013. Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. Dhaka, Bangladesh.
BBS (Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics). (2011). Population & Housing Census 2011: Preliminary Results. Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. Dhaka, Bangladesh.
BBS (Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics). (2008). Population Census. Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. Dhaka, Bangladesh.
CEGIS (Center for Environmental and Geographic Information Services). (2006). Coastal Land Use Zoning in the South-west: Impact of Sea Level Rise on Land use Suitability and Adaptation Options. Center for Environmental and Geographic Information Services. Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Datta D. Chattopadhyay R.N. and Deb S. (2011). Prospective Livelihood Opportunities from the Mangroves of the Sundarbans, India. Research Journal of Environmental Sciences, 5: 536-543.
DDM (Department of Disaster Management). (2014). Disaster Report 2013. Department of Disaster Management. Dhaka, Bangladesh.
FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations). (2010). The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations’s Global Forest Resources Assessment (2005 & 2010) and the State of the World’s Forests (2009, 2007, 2005, 2003, 2001). Rome, Italy.
Getzner M. & Islam M.S. (2013) Natural Resources, Livelihoods, And Reserve Management: A Case Study from Sundarbans Mangrove Forests, Bangladesh. Int. J. Sus. Dev. Plann. 8(1).
Giri, C., Pengra, B., Zhu, Z., Singh, A. & Tieszen, L.L., (2007). Monitoring mangrove forest dynamics of the Sundarbans in Bangladesh and India using multi-temporal satellite data from 1973 to 2000. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. 73: 91–100.
Gopal B & Chauhan M. (2006). Biodiversity and its conservation in the Sundarbans mangrove ecosystem. Sci, 68:338–354.
Huq, N., Hugé, J. (2010). Workers’ rights in climate change policies: The case of adaptation programmes in Small Island Developing States. Int. J. Labour Res. 2: 163–185.
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). 2007. Summary for Policymakers. In Parry, M.L., Canziani, O.F., Palutikof, J.P., van der Linden, P.J. & Hanson, C.E., eds. Climate Change 2007: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. Contribution of Working Group II to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, pp. 7–22. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.
Islam, M., Asif A.A, Vaumik S., Zafar A.M., Sharif B.M., Rahman, M., Shahriyar S. (2015). Socio economic status of fry collectors at Sundarban region. International Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Studies. 89-94.
Nath T. K., Makoto I., Islam M.J., Kabir M. A. (2003) The Khasia Tribe of Northeastern Bangladesh: Their Socio-Economic Status, Hill Farming Practices and Impacts On Forest Conservation, Forests, Trees and Livelihoods. 13(4): 297-311.
Rahman S.A, Rahman M.F., Codilan A.L., Farhana K.M. (2007). Analysis of the economic benefits from systematic improvements to shifting cultivation and its evolution towards stable continuous agroforestry in the upland of eastern Bangladesh. Int. For. Rev., 9(1): 536-547.
Rahman M. M. & Begum S. (2011). Land cover change analysis around the Sundarbans mangrove forest of Bangladesh using Remote Sensing and GIS application. J. Sci. Foundation, 9(1,2): 95-107.
Sanaul M. M. (2015). Land Cover Change, Population Dynamics and Climate Change: Spatial and Chronological Transformation of Sundarbans and its Adjacent Areas, Bangladesh.
Stolton S., Dudley, N. & Randall, J., (2008) Natural Security: Protected Areas and Hazard Mitigation, WWF: Gland, Switzerland.
Uddin M. S., Shah M.A.R., Khanom S, Nesha M.K. (2014). Climate change impacts on the Sundarbans mangrove ecosystem services and dependent livelihoods in Bangladesh. Asian Journal of Conservation Biology. 2: 152-156.
