Building Resilience Through Mangroves: Lessons from the Philippines and Bangladesh
Like the Philippines, Bangladesh is highly vulnerable to climate-induced natural hazards, particularly cyclones, storm surges, coastal flooding, salinity intrusion, and river erosion, all of which have intensified due to climate change. Rising sea levels and stronger cyclones have increased the frequency and severity of coastal disasters, especially along the southern coastal belt, including Khulna, Satkhira, Barguna, Bhola, and Cox’s Bazar. Low-lying chars and coastal islands face repeated displacement, loss of livelihoods, and damage to homes and infrastructure.
There are strong similarities between the Philippine mangrove case and Bangladesh’s experience. In both countries, the degradation of natural protective ecosystems mangroves in particular has amplified disaster impacts. In Bangladesh, mangroves such as the Sundarbans play a critical role in reducing storm surge intensity and protecting inland communities, much like the restored mangrove belts in Leyte and Samar. However, pressures from shrimp farming, embankments, and unplanned development have weakened these natural buffers in many areas.
The most affected communities in Bangladesh are coastal fishing households, landless labourers, women, and children, who depend directly on natural resources and have limited adaptive capacity. Climate shocks deepen poverty, increase food insecurity, and force distress migration. Women are often disproportionately affected due to care responsibilities and limited access to resources, but they are also central to community-level resilience efforts.
Bangladesh has responded through a mix of ecosystem-based adaptation and institutional support. Mangrove afforestation along coastal embankments, cyclone shelters, early warning systems, and community-based disaster preparedness programmes have reduced mortality and losses over time. NGOs and development partners support alternative livelihoods, women-led groups, and climate-resilient agriculture, while government initiatives integrate mangrove restoration into coastal protection strategies.
Overall, both cases show that environmental restoration is deeply linked to poverty reduction, gender empowerment, and long-term resilience, demonstrating how nature-based solutions can advance multiple Sustainable Development Goals simultaneously.