**2. Understanding the vulnerabilities to salinity within marginalized population**

#### **2.1 Salinity intrusion and impacts on livelihoods**

The salinity intrusion in the coastal belt of Bangladesh is severely affecting the life and livelihood of the community people. People are suffering for pure drinking water, irrigation water, and loss of agricultural lands. The salinity in the river water also changes the aquatic ecosystem and fishery sector. The average share of agricultural production in the national GDP is 35.53% [3]. As soil salinity increases each year, dry season is only favorable for the cultivation of crops in the coastal region. However, dry-season agriculture is becoming difficult due to salinity intrusion in the coastal belt of Bangladesh. Each year this is negatively impacting the crop production across the coastal belt [10]. Since coastal salinity poses great challenges on agriculture, community people are sometimes forced to convert the agricultural land to shrimp fields and other alternative forms of livelihood earning. The salinity also created shortage of grazing land and fodder for the livestock. This is affecting not only the livelihood of the community people but also the health and growth of the children in the area. Due to lack of pure drinking water, people especially the girls have to travel long distance to collect water. These cause dropout from school and sexual harassment. Moreover, intake of salt water causes high blood pressure among the young adults in the coastal Bangladesh [5].

**89**

47,150 km2

for pure drinking water.

in the locality at present.

**3. Materials and methods**

*Coastal Community Adaptation to Climate Change-Induced Salinity Intrusion in Bangladesh*

In Bangladesh about 80% of the land is floodplains with a low mean elevation above the sea level. The average elevation of the southwest coastal zone ranges from 1 to 2 m and in the southeast coastal zone 4–5 m [2]. The geographical location and flat topography of the country make the country more vulnerable to sea-level rise. Climate change has also increased the frequency and intensity of natural disasters. There is evidence of a 5–10% increase in intensity (wind speed) that would contribute to enhanced cyclone storm. Increased intensity of cyclone damages coastal infrastructure including roads, water supply, sanitation systems, administrative

A devastating cyclone Sidr lashed the coastal region of Bangladesh on November 15, 2007. According to the government, it caused 3363 human deaths, and damage to property, livestock, and crops was estimated to be USD 1.7 billion. Due to severe salinity caused by cyclone Sidr, around 5 lakh hectares of cultivable land in the coastal region have remained uncultivated for the last 10 years [6]. According to the Soil Science Institute, around 4 lakh hectares, out of a total 7.41 lakh hectares of arable land, are highly contaminated by saline water. The farmers of the region are unable to cultivate their land due to the high level of salinity, as much as 16–18 deci-semen per cubic meter water, whereas the tolerable limit is 4–8 deci-semen per cubic meter to cultivate rice [6]. According to the Department of Agricultural Extension due to salinity caused by cyclone Sidr, rice production has decreased by around 4 lakh tons over the last 5 years. Saline water is continuously entering cultivable land through the faulty embankments damaged by cyclone Sidr.

Another devastating cyclone, cyclone Aila, hits the coast of Bangladesh on May 29, 2009. Cyclone Aila dewatered about 10% of the ponds, and 90% of the tube wells were submerged. Women spent an average of 4–5 hours a day collecting water, often walking 2–3 km to reach the nearest safe water sources or collection point [5]. People drank unsafe water or spent their limited financial resources on the collection of safe water or purchasing drinking water. After the cyclone Aila, the surface water and also groundwater of the coastal area of Bangladesh became saltier making

Bangladesh has a coastline of 710 km, and the coastal zone extends over

About 20 million people in the coastal areas of Bangladesh are affected by salinity

The Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies (BCAS) in its recent study conducted a research to understand the context-specific, ecosystem-friendly, and climate-adaptive agricultural and livelihood practices in three vulnerable zones of Bangladesh, which includes coastal, Char, and hilly regions. The study used a mixed-method approach by using both quantitative and qualitative methodological techniques to meet its objectives. For this purpose, national-level policy documents were consulted to understand the gap between existing knowledge and the scenario

The BCAS research team conducted this study by incorporating focus group discussions (FGDs), key informants interview (KIIs) and household survey using semi-structured questionnaire from the communities. Data collected included demographical information, community's socio-economic condition, resilience planning and disaster preparedness, access to basic services, alternative livelihoods,

areas. The coastal zone has a population of 38.52 million (BBS 2011).

drinking water as one of the key challenges in the area [4].

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.80418*

buildings, and cyclone shelters.

**2.2 Impacts of climate change within coastal communities**

*Coastal Community Adaptation to Climate Change-Induced Salinity Intrusion in Bangladesh DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.80418*

#### **2.2 Impacts of climate change within coastal communities**

*Agricultural Economics - Current Issues*

coastal districts in the country.

"live with salt."

**population**

vulnerabilities and climate change impacts are enhancing poverty, migration, and inequality in the country [7]. The government of Bangladesh has been able to identify different eco-zones which are vulnerable to climate change in its own distinct ways. These zones include southwest and central coast of Bangladesh including Bagerhat, Satkhira, Barguna, Patuakhali, and Bhola, which are the major affected

It may as well be noted that IPCC Fourth and Fifth Assessment Report identified a number of climate-sensitive diseases which are waterborne (e.g., diarrhea and cholera). The Government of Bangladesh has been trying through its initiatives and own national funds to ensure that the vulnerable, socially excluded, disadvantaged households are supported with proper water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities. A number of disasters including flood, cyclone, river bank erosion, waterlogging, landslide, etc. have already hit the country in the past and posed themselves as critical disasters affecting the country's stability in the face of climate change. These disasters affect the entire environmental settings, infrastructure, and natural resource base which are essential for local livelihoods. Cyclone and storm surge, salinity intrusion, coastal flooding, waterlogging, variation in temperature, and rainfall jeopardize coastal livelihoods [8]. The intrusion of excess salinity has pushed the people living in the coastal zones to several dilemmas [9]. However, coastal communities have emerged with their local-level adaptation techniques, being able to set example across the world to

The following chapter summarizes the scenario of climate change induced salinity intrusion and impacts on livelihood communities. It also presents some insights from a research project conducted by Bangladesh Center for Advanced Studies (BCAS) which conducted a case study to understand coastal salinity in Bangladesh. As such, the chapter will provide a narrative on the current problems, present initiatives by the community to address the salinity challenges and way forward.

**2. Understanding the vulnerabilities to salinity within marginalized** 

The salinity intrusion in the coastal belt of Bangladesh is severely affecting the life and livelihood of the community people. People are suffering for pure drinking water, irrigation water, and loss of agricultural lands. The salinity in the river water also changes the aquatic ecosystem and fishery sector. The average share of agricultural production in the national GDP is 35.53% [3]. As soil salinity increases each year, dry season is only favorable for the cultivation of crops in the coastal region. However, dry-season agriculture is becoming difficult due to salinity intrusion in the coastal belt of Bangladesh. Each year this is negatively impacting the crop production across the coastal belt [10]. Since coastal salinity poses great challenges on agriculture, community people are sometimes forced to convert the agricultural land to shrimp fields and other alternative forms of livelihood earning. The salinity also created shortage of grazing land and fodder for the livestock. This is affecting not only the livelihood of the community people but also the health and growth of the children in the area. Due to lack of pure drinking water, people especially the girls have to travel long distance to collect water. These cause dropout from school and sexual harassment. Moreover, intake of salt water causes high blood pressure among the young adults in the coastal

**2.1 Salinity intrusion and impacts on livelihoods**

**88**

Bangladesh [5].

In Bangladesh about 80% of the land is floodplains with a low mean elevation above the sea level. The average elevation of the southwest coastal zone ranges from 1 to 2 m and in the southeast coastal zone 4–5 m [2]. The geographical location and flat topography of the country make the country more vulnerable to sea-level rise. Climate change has also increased the frequency and intensity of natural disasters. There is evidence of a 5–10% increase in intensity (wind speed) that would contribute to enhanced cyclone storm. Increased intensity of cyclone damages coastal infrastructure including roads, water supply, sanitation systems, administrative buildings, and cyclone shelters.

A devastating cyclone Sidr lashed the coastal region of Bangladesh on November 15, 2007. According to the government, it caused 3363 human deaths, and damage to property, livestock, and crops was estimated to be USD 1.7 billion. Due to severe salinity caused by cyclone Sidr, around 5 lakh hectares of cultivable land in the coastal region have remained uncultivated for the last 10 years [6]. According to the Soil Science Institute, around 4 lakh hectares, out of a total 7.41 lakh hectares of arable land, are highly contaminated by saline water. The farmers of the region are unable to cultivate their land due to the high level of salinity, as much as 16–18 deci-semen per cubic meter water, whereas the tolerable limit is 4–8 deci-semen per cubic meter to cultivate rice [6]. According to the Department of Agricultural Extension due to salinity caused by cyclone Sidr, rice production has decreased by around 4 lakh tons over the last 5 years. Saline water is continuously entering cultivable land through the faulty embankments damaged by cyclone Sidr.

Another devastating cyclone, cyclone Aila, hits the coast of Bangladesh on May 29, 2009. Cyclone Aila dewatered about 10% of the ponds, and 90% of the tube wells were submerged. Women spent an average of 4–5 hours a day collecting water, often walking 2–3 km to reach the nearest safe water sources or collection point [5]. People drank unsafe water or spent their limited financial resources on the collection of safe water or purchasing drinking water. After the cyclone Aila, the surface water and also groundwater of the coastal area of Bangladesh became saltier making drinking water as one of the key challenges in the area [4].

Bangladesh has a coastline of 710 km, and the coastal zone extends over 47,150 km2 areas. The coastal zone has a population of 38.52 million (BBS 2011). About 20 million people in the coastal areas of Bangladesh are affected by salinity for pure drinking water.
