Impacts of Climate Change on Teesta River Basin Char Lands: A Study of Livelihood and Ecosystem Dynamics in Bangladesh

Abstract

This study anticipates identifying how does climate change affect the livelihood and ecosystem of char land of Teesta River basin char land. Structured questionnaire and related documents were used for both primary and secondary data collection. Survey was conducted in two districts (Rangpur and Nilphamari) and four unions (Lakhitari, Topa Madhupur, Shatibari, Gulmund) of four upazilas (Gangachara, Kaunia, Dimla, Jaldhaka). A total of 50 respondents from each selected char union was selected following a multistage random sampling procedure. Thus, there was altogether 200 respondents selected for this study. Data related to age, education level, occupation, knowledge about climate change of char inhabitants and perception of char dwellers regarding climate change was measured. A total number of 93% of the respondents clearly grasp that climate change refers to changes in long-term typical weather. It was observed that ongoing climate change has 78% impact on agriculture followed by health of peoples and other animals that is 20%. In the rainy season they observed increase in lightning from sun as the highest effect of climate change that has a WAI of 1.77. Teesta river basin people perceived dry spell frequency as the second highest extent of climate change that had a WAI of 1.74 followed by timing of rain offset, uneven distribution of rainfall and timing of rain onset. According to their perception it was found that great extent of loss was found in skills of char peoples (48.35%) followed by knowledge of char peoples (44.27%). It was also observed that a third great extent of loss was found in char peoples good health (41.67%) followed by ability to work (39.06%). Out of all the  respondents  166 (43.2%) observed that soil is becoming dry day by day due to climate change followed by rivers becoming dry (37.8%) (Table 8). They found that growing trees have become difficult (45.1%), due to drought underground water is decreasing (61.7%) and air became dry due to climate change, and these are small extent of loss. Char inhabitants observed that climate change impact on physical capital and great extent impact was perceived on people's migration to another place (41.4%). Teesta River basin char dwellers opined about 24 adaptation strategies to reduce the impact of climate change on livelihood and ecosystem in that area.