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As an Adaptation for Climate Change in
the Flood Prone Areas
Bangladesh, with one of the world’s
highest density of population 12000 per square kilometer, is particularly vulnerable to the
impact of climate change. As a deltaic country some 70% of the country is at risks of flooding
and over 20% of the country experiences ’normal flooding during the monsoon period every year.
Climate changes impact in Bangladesh has been assessed in IPCC reports that include changes in
temperature and precipitation pattern.
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The National Adaptation Program of
Action (NAPA) is prepared by the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MOEF), Government of
the People’s Republic of Bangladesh as a response to the decision of the Seventh Session
of the Conference of the Parties (COP7) of the United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change (UNFCCC). It is revealed that adverse effects of climate stimuli including
variability and extreme events on the overall development of Bangladesh would be
significant and highly related to changes in the water sector. The single most damaging
effects of climate change have been identified as floods – frequent and prolonged
flooding. Flooding is apprehended to have drastic affect on human settlement almost every
year. Climate change induced challenges are: (a) relocation of flood affected people and
their resources (b) increased congestion in flow of water due to higher water levels in
the confluence with the rise of sea level, (c) river bank erosion, (d) rehabilitation and
reconstruction of human settlement |
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It was found that the populations living
in the flood plans and the coastal areas are more vulnerable than the population in higher
lands.
The strategic goals and objectives of
future coping mechanisms are to reduce adverse effects of climate change including variability
and extreme events and promote sustainable development. Future coping strategies and
mechanisms are suggested based on existing process and practices keeping main essence of
adaptation science which is a process to adjust with adverse situation of climate change.
Sharing knowledge and experiences of existing coping strategies and practices to other area
that would come under similar problems related to climate change. Development of techniques
for transferring knowledge and experiences from one area/ecosystem is also necessary.
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