Community-Based Adaptation: The Case of Mangrove Restoration in Sundarbans, Bangladesh
One notable example of community-based adaptation is the Mangrove Restoration and Livelihood Support Project in the Sundarbans region of Bangladesh. This project was designed to strengthen resilience to coastal flooding and cyclones while supporting local livelihoods.
Design and Implementation:
Participatory Planning: Local communities, NGOs, and government agencies jointly identified vulnerable areas, prioritizing regions where mangrove loss had increased flood risk and degraded fisheries.
Community Involvement: Villagers were trained in planting and maintaining mangroves, creating “community nurseries,” and adopting sustainable fishing practices.
Integration of Local Knowledge: Traditional knowledge about tidal patterns, soil salinity, and fish migration informed site selection and planting techniques.
Conflict Resolution Mechanisms: Village committees mediated disputes over land and resource use, ensuring equitable participation.
Assessment Against Key Criteria:
Represents Community Values: ✅ The project preserved livelihoods and cultural practices tied to fishing and coastal management.
Problem Solving: ✅ Reduced erosion, storm surge impacts, and enhanced food security.
Vulnerability Assessment: ✅ Used local ecological knowledge and participatory mapping to identify hotspots.
Conflict Management: ✅ Village committees resolved resource allocation disputes.
Meeting Community Needs: ✅ Supported alternative livelihoods like beekeeping and crab farming, reducing dependence on vulnerable resources.
Enhancing Adaptation Capacity: ✅ Strengthened both ecological resilience and social organization, creating a sustainable model for future climate risks.
Takeaway:This project demonstrates that community-led initiatives, grounded in local knowledge and values, can effectively enhance adaptive capacity while balancing ecological, social, and economic objectives.