The case study “Restoring Hope Through Mangroves – A Story from the Philippines” closely resonates with the climate change realities in Bangladesh, as both countries are highly vulnerable to climate-induced natural hazards and depend heavily on coastal ecosystems for protection and livelihoods.
1. Common natural hazards and climate change impacts
In Bangladesh, common natural hazards include cyclones, storm surges, coastal flooding, river erosion, salinity intrusion, and droughts. Climate change has clearly intensified the frequency and severity of cyclones, increased sea-level rise, and made rainfall patterns more unpredictable. Similar to the Philippines, these changes increase the destructive power of storms and weaken natural and human systems that once offered protection.
2. Areas facing the greatest impacts
The coastal regions of Bangladesh—such as Khulna, Satkhira, Barguna, Bhola, and Cox’s Bazar—face the greatest impacts. These areas experience repeated cyclones, embankment breaches, and saline water intrusion, much like coastal villages in the Philippines. Riverine floodplains in central and northern Bangladesh are also highly vulnerable due to increased flooding and erosion.
3. Most affected communities: how and why
The most affected communities are coastal fishers, smallholder farmers, landless households, and indigenous and low-income populations. They are disproportionately impacted because they depend directly on natural resources for their livelihoods and often live in hazard-prone areas with limited infrastructure. Salinity intrusion reduces crop yields and drinking water availability, while cyclones destroy homes, boats, and livestock—mirroring the experiences of coastal communities in the Philippines.
4. Local coping and adaptation methods
Similar to mangrove restoration efforts in the Philippines, Bangladesh has long relied on mangrove ecosystems—particularly the Sundarbans—as a natural barrier against cyclones and storm surges. At the community level, people raise house plinths, use cyclone shelters, adopt saline-resistant crop varieties, practice floating agriculture in flood-prone areas, and diversify livelihoods. Community-based afforestation and mangrove plantation projects are also increasingly used as nature-based solutions.
5. Role of government, NGOs, and external support
The Government of Bangladesh, along with NGOs such as BRAC, Practical Action, and COAST Trust, plays a significant role in supporting vulnerable communities. Their support includes early warning systems, cyclone shelters, embankment construction, climate-resilient agriculture, and livelihood recovery programs. International donors and development partners (e.g., UNDP, World Bank, and climate funds) provide technical and financial assistance—similar to the external stakeholder support seen in the Philippines mangrove case.
Similarities and differences
The key similarity between Bangladesh and the Philippines lies in the use of nature-based solutions, especially mangroves, to reduce climate risks and build resilience. A difference is that Bangladesh’s adaptation efforts are more heavily integrated into national climate policies (such as the Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan), while community-led coastal ecosystem restoration is more prominently highlighted in the Philippine case study.
Overall, the comparison shows that ecosystem-based adaptation combined with strong community participation and institutional support is a powerful approach to addressing climate change impacts in both countries.