Endogenous Technologies for Adaptation to Climate Change: examples and lessons learned

Endogenous Technologies for Adaptation Endogenous Technologies for Adaptation to Climate Change: examples and lessons to Climate Change: examples and lessons

learnedlearned

Mozaharul Alam, National Project Coordinator, Bangladesh NAPA Mozaharul Alam, National Project Coordinator, Bangladesh NAPA Project, and Research Fellow, BCASProject, and Research Fellow, BCAS

andand

Atiq Rahman, Executive Director, BCASAtiq Rahman, Executive Director, BCAS

Seminar on Development and Transfer of Environmentally Sound Seminar on Development and Transfer of Environmentally Sound Technologies for Adaptation to Climate ChangeTechnologies for Adaptation to Climate Change

14-16 June 2005, Tobago14-16 June 2005, Tobago

Trinidad and TobagoTrinidad and Tobago

About PresentationAbout Presentation

• General overview of BangladeshGeneral overview of Bangladesh

• Context of Vulnerability: spatial and temporal Context of Vulnerability: spatial and temporal aspectsaspects

• Examples of endogenous technologies for reducing Examples of endogenous technologies for reducing vulnerabilitiesvulnerabilities

• Existing coping strategies to CC variability and Existing coping strategies to CC variability and extreme events identified by NAPA Preparation extreme events identified by NAPA Preparation ProcessProcess

• Lessons learnedLessons learned

• Concluding RemarksConcluding Remarks

General OverviewGeneral Overview

• Located Located between 20between 20OO3434// to to 2626OO3838// north latitude and 88 north latitude and 88OO0101// to 92to 92OO4242/ / east longitudeeast longitude, part of , part of Bengal Basin;Bengal Basin;

• Area is 147.57 thousand sq. kmArea is 147.57 thousand sq. km

– 80 percent Floodplain80 percent Floodplain

– 12 percent Hilly area12 percent Hilly area

– 8 percent Pleistocene Terrace;8 percent Pleistocene Terrace;

• Total population is about Total population is about 140million with very low GDP, 140million with very low GDP, 360 US$ per capita;360 US$ per capita;

• Climate Climate is characterized byis characterized by

– high temperature,high temperature, heavy rainfall, heavy rainfall, often-excessive humidityoften-excessive humidity, , seasonal seasonal variationsvariations


•Socio-economic SituationSocio-economic Situation

– Human Development Index has improved Human Development Index has improved from 0.35 in 1980 to 0.509 in 2002, still very from 0.35 in 1980 to 0.509 in 2002, still very low;low;

– Income poverty has decline from about 59 Income poverty has decline from about 59 percent to 49 percent over the last decade;percent to 49 percent over the last decade;

– Income poverty in the rural area is higher Income poverty in the rural area is higher compare to national level income poverty – compare to national level income poverty – 53 percent53 percent

– Human poverty trend shows considerable Human poverty trend shows considerable improvement over the last two decades – 61 improvement over the last two decades – 61 to 35 percent.to 35 percent.

General OverviewGeneral Overview• Bangladesh is at the Bangladesh is at the

lower end of the lower end of the Himalayan drainage Himalayan drainage ecosystemecosystem

• Comprises only 8 Comprises only 8 percent of the GBM percent of the GBM system and carry about system and carry about 92 percent of water flow92 percent of water flow

• Average monsoon flow Average monsoon flow varies from 80,000 t0 varies from 80,000 t0 140,000 cubic meter/sec140,000 cubic meter/sec

• This is second to This is second to Amazon SystemAmazon System

• 1.7 to 2.4 billion tons of 1.7 to 2.4 billion tons of sediments carried by the sediments carried by the river system through river system through BangladeshBangladesh


• There are 230 rivers in the There are 230 rivers in the country and 53 are country and 53 are transboundary in naturetransboundary in nature

• The transboundary rivers The transboundary rivers have been greatly interfered – have been greatly interfered – diversion of water in dry diversion of water in dry seasonseason

• Virtually – Bangladesh is a Virtually – Bangladesh is a conglomerate of islandsconglomerate of islands

• Very little structurally solid Very little structurally solid rocks, mostly flexible mudrocks, mostly flexible mud

• 8 percent of area is water8 percent of area is water

Context of Vulnerability: spatial and Context of Vulnerability: spatial and temporal aspectstemporal aspects

1998



• Coast area of Coast area of Bangladesh is very Bangladesh is very prone to cyclone and prone to cyclone and storm surgesstorm surges

• Coastal island and sea Coastal island and sea facing area are more facing area are more prone compare to other prone compare to other coastal areacoastal area

• Intensity of cyclone Intensity of cyclone varies and damage as varies and damage as wellwell


• Saline affected area is Saline affected area is showing increasing trendshowing increasing trend

• Surface water salinity, Surface water salinity, salinity in the groundwater salinity in the groundwater are major concernare major concern

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

Are

a in

thou

sand

ha.

2-4 ds/m 4-8 ds/m 8-15 ds/m > 15 ds/m

Salinity Concentration

1966-75

1997

Endogenous technologies for adaptation Endogenous technologies for adaptation to vulnerability context: to vulnerability context: cyclone and cyclone and

storm surgesstorm surges• Structural measuresStructural measures

– Multipurpose cyclone Multipurpose cyclone centres: emergency sheltercentres: emergency shelter

• Non-structural measuresNon-structural measures– Storage of food (dry and Storage of food (dry and

drinking water) and seeds drinking water) and seeds underneath soil using jarunderneath soil using jar

Dry foodDrinking

waterSeeds

• These structural and non-These structural and non-structural measures safe life structural measures safe life and provide emergency and provide emergency support before relief support before relief operationoperation

• Can not protect livestock and Can not protect livestock and other assetsother assets

Endogenous technologies for adaptation Endogenous technologies for adaptation to vulnerability context: to vulnerability context: flood/wetlandflood/wetland

• Floating Agriculture: Floating Agriculture: BairaBaira (hydroponics)(hydroponics)

• Traditionally been Traditionally been practicing by some practicing by some communities in southern communities in southern districtsdistricts

• Recently this technology Recently this technology has been introduced in has been introduced in other wetland area other wetland area through organized through organized extension under extension under environmental-environmental-developmental projects developmental projects (RVCC, SEMP etc.)(RVCC, SEMP etc.)


• BCAS is working in BCAS is working in this area since 1992this area since 1992

• Working with Working with peoples in peoples in promoting promoting livelihoodslivelihoods

• Over the last 4 Over the last 4 years BCAS is years BCAS is promoting extension promoting extension of of BairaBaira technology technology under RVCC and under RVCC and SEMP projectSEMP project


• Baira preparationBaira preparation– Collection of materials Collection of materials

(water-hyacinth and other (water-hyacinth and other aquatic vegetation like aquatic vegetation like ipomoea fistulosa)ipomoea fistulosa)

– Making a floating bed (May Making a floating bed (May to July)to July)

• Crop selectionCrop selection– Mostly vegetables, both Mostly vegetables, both

summer and wintersummer and winter

• Cultivation on Cultivation on BairaBaira platformplatform

– Ball or cushion like Ball or cushion like structurestructure

– Seedling raisingSeedling raising


• Growing vegetablesGrowing vegetables– Seeding raising is more Seeding raising is more

lucrative than vegetables lucrative than vegetables growinggrowing

– People also grow People also grow vegetables for own vegetables for own consumption and sell consumption and sell surplus to the marketsurplus to the market

• On average profit is about On average profit is about 120 to 130 percent120 to 130 percent


• Protecting house and Protecting house and homesteadhomestead

– Measures varies by social Measures varies by social groupsgroups

– Raising plinth of housesRaising plinth of houses

– plant flood tolerant trees plant flood tolerant trees and plants around their and plants around their houses and homesteads houses and homesteads to protect them from flood to protect them from flood impacts and erosionimpacts and erosion

Endogenous technologies for adaptation Endogenous technologies for adaptation to vulnerability context: to vulnerability context: SalinitySalinity

• Structural MeasuresStructural Measures– Coastal EmbankmentCoastal Embankment

• Promotion of salt tolerant Promotion of salt tolerant varietyvariety

– Bangladesh has developed salt Bangladesh has developed salt tolerant crop variety able to tolerant crop variety able to tolerate 8 dS/mtolerate 8 dS/m

• Improper management and ill Improper management and ill design increase sedimentation design increase sedimentation and lead to drainage congestionand lead to drainage congestion

Village

Sluice Gate EmbankmentIsamati River

Source of Diagram: Jennifer Pouliotte, University of Guelph and Dr. Barry Smit, University of Guelph

Endogenous technologies for adaptation Endogenous technologies for adaptation to vulnerability context: to vulnerability context: SalinitySalinity

• Land flooded with saline waterLand flooded with saline water

• Change from rice to shrimp Change from rice to shrimp farmingfarming

• Initiatives supported by Initiatives supported by government government

Source of Diagram: Jennifer Pouliotte, University of Guelph and Dr. Barry Smit, University of Guelph

Examples of Existing Coping Strategies Examples of Existing Coping Strategies Identified by NAPA Preparation ProcessIdentified by NAPA Preparation Process

• Existing Coping StrategiesExisting Coping Strategies– Shrimp Farming (saline and brackish)Shrimp Farming (saline and brackish)

– Poly Culture (shrimp and rice farming)Poly Culture (shrimp and rice farming)

– Salt PanningSalt Panning

– Collection of drinking water from long distanceCollection of drinking water from long distance

– Rain water harvestingRain water harvesting

– Keep the land fallowKeep the land fallow

– MigrationMigration

– Construction of Polder/embankmentConstruction of Polder/embankment

– AfforestationAfforestation

– Take shelter during cyclone following the signalsTake shelter during cyclone following the signals

Examples of Existing Coping Strategies Examples of Existing Coping Strategies Identified by NAPA Preparation ProcessIdentified by NAPA Preparation Process

• Existing Coping StrategiesExisting Coping Strategies

– Floating agriculture during flooding (monsoon) seasonFloating agriculture during flooding (monsoon) season

– Development of salinity tolerant species by BARI and BRRIDevelopment of salinity tolerant species by BARI and BRRI

– Establishment of shallow tube-well for irrigation to reduce Establishment of shallow tube-well for irrigation to reduce impact of salinityimpact of salinity

– Adoption of sort duration crop variety based on situationAdoption of sort duration crop variety based on situation

– Selection of variety, supplementary irrigation and Selection of variety, supplementary irrigation and drainage depending on season and temperaturedrainage depending on season and temperature

– Artificial management of temperature such as use of wet Artificial management of temperature such as use of wet jute bags over shade, use exhaust fan (hot weather), jute bags over shade, use exhaust fan (hot weather), electric bulbs for heating (winter season)electric bulbs for heating (winter season)

Lessons LearnedLessons Learned• Endogenous technologies for adaptation is context Endogenous technologies for adaptation is context

specificspecific– Results depend on socio-economic condition of the Results depend on socio-economic condition of the

community, level of motivation, marketing possibility of community, level of motivation, marketing possibility of productproduct

– Availability of raw material, for example water hyacinth Availability of raw material, for example water hyacinth and aquatic vegetationand aquatic vegetation

• Need mediator/promoter for wider disseminationNeed mediator/promoter for wider dissemination

• Training is necessaryTraining is necessary

• Trust building is must, for example trust on early Trust building is must, for example trust on early warning on cyclone and storm surgewarning on cyclone and storm surge

• ChallengesChallenges– Transfer to other area, need action research, need to Transfer to other area, need action research, need to

understand community and ecosystemunderstand community and ecosystem

– Functionality of these technologies under additional stress Functionality of these technologies under additional stress (CC)?? – need further work(CC)?? – need further work

Concluding RemarksConcluding Remarks

• Both hard and soft measures are necessary for Both hard and soft measures are necessary for better resultsbetter results

• All vulnerable sectors (water, agriculture, housing, All vulnerable sectors (water, agriculture, housing, health etc) of ecosystem/locality need to be health etc) of ecosystem/locality need to be addressed, should be people centred, to promote addressed, should be people centred, to promote sustainable developmentsustainable development

• Limitation of endogenous and existing Limitation of endogenous and existing technologies need to be assessed in the context technologies need to be assessed in the context of climate change and variabilityof climate change and variability

• Technologies for adaptation to address future Technologies for adaptation to address future climate change can be built on existing practices climate change can be built on existing practices and measures related to climate variability and and measures related to climate variability and extremeextreme

AcknowledgementAcknowledgement

• Researchers and staff ofResearchers and staff of– Component 2.2.1 of Sustainable Environment Component 2.2.1 of Sustainable Environment

Management Programme (SEMP)Management Programme (SEMP)

– Reducing Vulnerability to Climate Change (RVCC)Reducing Vulnerability to Climate Change (RVCC)

Thank YouThank You

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Endogenous Technologies for Adaptation to Climate Change: examples and lessons learned