Community-Based Coastal Adaptation in Bangladesh
A successful example of community-centered adaptation is Bangladesh’s coastal afforestation and livelihood diversification initiatives, where local communities restore mangroves to reduce storm surge impacts while improving income opportunities. The plan was designed through participatory consultations, ensuring that local priorities such as safety, land access, and livelihoods were reflected in project activities.
The project effectively addressed key challenges, including coastal erosion, flooding, and salinity intrusion by combining ecosystem restoration with climate-resilient livelihoods. Vulnerability assessments focused on the most at-risk groups, especially landless households and women, ensuring equitable targeting. Conflict over land use was managed through benefit-sharing arrangements and co-management structures between communities and authorities.
Overall, the initiative met community expectations by improving protection from floods while strengthening economic security. It also enhanced adaptive capacity by building local skills, diversifying income sources, and fostering collective action, making communities better able to anticipate, cope with, and recover from climate shocks.