Complete Project Collection

Integrated Conservation and Sustainable Livelihoods: Protecting the Socio-Biodiversity of Saint Martin's Island

The Physical and Socio-Biodiversity Conservation of Saint Martin initiative aimed to preserve the island's endangered ecosystem while supporting local livelihoods.

The project gathered ecological and socio-economic data through surveys, remote sensing, and community workshops, revealing key threats such as coral reef deterioration, overfishing, harmful tourism, and habitat loss. It emphasized the importance of community engagement, green tourism, and integrated coastal management to ensure the island's biodiversity and long-term sustainability.

Field Activities

• Observing the degradation of the coral reefs around Saint Martin's Island
• A questionnaire survey was conducted to assess vulnerability to natural hazards

Key Findings

• Coral reef deterioration due to climate change and human activities
• Overfishing threatening marine biodiversity
• Unsustainable tourism practices causing environmental damage

Impact

Provided actionable insights for integrated coastal management and community-based conservation strategies.

Exploring the Landscape, Khasi Tribe Lifestyle, and Tea Plantations in the Sylhet Region

The project examined the interconnectedness of Sylhet's natural environment, indigenous peoples, and the tea plantation economy through field surveys, interviews, and spatial mapping.

It focused on the Khasi tribe, who struggle with land tenure insecurity, deforestation, and cultural erosion while relying on betel leaf and small-scale farming. The study also highlighted the challenges faced by low-income tea workers, including poor wages and limited access to education and healthcare. Overall, it suggested that sustainable land management, protection of indigenous rights, equitable labor practices, and community-based eco-tourism could promote cultural preservation and socio-economic stability in Sylhet.

Field Activities

• Exploring the landscapes and sustainable tourism practices in Jaflong, Sylhet
• Visited tea gardens in Sylhet and conducted questionnaire surveys with the Khasi tribe and tea workers to investigate the challenges and economic vulnerabilities they face

Key Findings

• Land tenure insecurity affecting Khasi communities
• Cultural erosion due to modernization pressures
• Tea workers facing poor wages and limited healthcare access

Impact

Recommended sustainable land management and protection of indigenous rights for regional stability.

Exploring the Biodiversity, Wildlife, Tourism, and Sustainable Livelihoods of the Sundarbans Mangrove Forest

The Sundarbans Mangrove Forest, the largest of its kind, offers a rich biodiversity and a unique environment.

During our visit, we explored winding rivers and dense mangroves, where we spotted wildlife such as deer and crocodiles, as well as signs of the elusive Royal Bengal Tiger. We also observed eco-tourism activities that support local livelihoods and conservation efforts. One of the highlights of our trip was visiting Dublar Char, a seasonal fishing hub where thousands of fishermen catch and sell fish, which is crucial to the local economy. However, this area faces significant threats from cyclones, tidal surges, and tiger activity, underscoring the delicate balance between environmental protection and sustainable livelihoods in this vital coastal ecosystem.

Field Activities

• The dense vegetation cover of the Sundarbans protects Bangladesh and West Bengal from cyclones and storm surges
• After conducting a questionnaire survey of fishermen in Dublar Char revealed that they leave after February due to rising tides, rough seas, and a heightened risk of cyclones

Key Findings

• Rich biodiversity supporting complex food webs
• Eco-tourism providing alternative livelihoods
• Seasonal fishing patterns at Dublar Char

Impact

Highlighted the balance between environmental protection and sustainable livelihoods in coastal ecosystems.

Exploring Landforms, Human Activities, and Rubber Conservation Practices in Ramu and Cox's Bazar

The field study in Cox's Bazar and Ramu provided insights into the area's physical and socio-economic environments.

The long sandy beaches and hilly landscapes contrast distinctly. The study highlighted the interplay between human activities like tourism and agriculture and the natural environment, showcasing both opportunities and challenges for sustainable development. Notably, a rubber plantation practicing conservation emphasized community-based management that is economically beneficial and environmentally sustainable. This project underscored the interdependence between natural landforms, human livelihoods, and conservation efforts, stressing the need for sustainable practices to protect the region's ecological integrity while supporting local communities.

Field Activities

• In Cox's Bazar, we were taken to a preserved forest that had high ecological diversity, rich flora and fauna, and maintained natural habitats
• Latex is carefully extracted from the rubber tree using traditional harvesting techniques, which support both livelihoods and sustainable plantation management

Key Findings

• Contrast between sandy coastal and hilly inland landscapes
• Tourism and agriculture creating development opportunities and challenges
• Community-based rubber plantation management showing sustainability success

Impact

Demonstrated successful community-based conservation practices for sustainable regional development.

Geographic Transformation of Hilly Regions, Flooding, and Economic Activities in Netrokona

We conducted a field study in Netrokona, Bangladesh, to examine the geographic transformation of hilly regions, the nature of floods, and related economic activities.

The site's unique landscape, shaped by natural processes and human actions, experiences significant impacts from seasonal floods enhanced by monsoon rains. Local communities demonstrate resilience through flood-tolerant agriculture, fishing, and small-scale trade. Techniques like terracing and embankment building illustrate how humans adapt the landscape to sustain productivity. Economic activities depend on natural resources, with floods sometimes disrupting production and transportation. This project highlights the interaction between geography, hydrology, and human activity, emphasizing the need for sustainable land-use planning and disaster management to balance economic development and environmental conservation in flood-prone areas of Netrokona.

Field Activities

• This upper bank shows the water level during the rainy season, but after the season, the water level falls dramatically, causing drought
• From the ridge, the entire valley seemed fertile, enriched by upstream sediments that support agriculture and local livelihoods

Key Findings

• Seasonal floods enhanced by monsoon rainfall patterns
• Community resilience through adaptive agriculture
• Terracing and embankment techniques for flood management

Impact

Emphasized sustainable land-use planning for balancing development and environmental conservation.

Investigating the Physical Features and Socio-Economic Life of the Haor Regions in Nikli and Mithamoin

Our field study in the Haor areas of Nikli and Mithamoin, Kishoreganj, provided insight into the region's physical and socio-economic features.

Haors are seasonal wetlands that transform into fertile land after monsoon floods. The flat terrain, characterized by rivers and depressions, influences agricultural practices and settlement patterns. Major livelihood activities include fishing, seasonal agriculture, and small-scale trading, with rice crops planted after the water recedes. Despite challenges like floods and poor infrastructure, locals have developed coping strategies to sustain their economy. The study highlights the interconnection between the Haor ecosystem and human activities, emphasizing the need for sustainable management to balance ecological health and socio-economic development.

Field Activities

• Participating in a questionnaire survey about crop diversification, economic activities, and related topics
• Haor, a seasonal wetland in Bangladesh, holds a large amount of water during the rainy season, and the rest of the time, it remains agricultural land

Key Findings

• Haors transform from wetlands to fertile agricultural land seasonally
• Community adaptation through fishing and seasonal agriculture
• Infrastructure challenges affecting economic development

Impact

Highlighted sustainable management needs for balancing ecological health and socio-economic development.

Exploring Seasonal Patterns of Sandbars and Vegetation in Alokdia Char, Manikganj

Our field study focused on the seasonal development of sandbars and associated vegetation in Alokdia Char, Manikganj.

This area experiences dynamic erosion and deposition along the riverbanks, resulting in sandbars that form during dry seasons and partially submerge in monsoon floods. These sandbars support pioneer vegetation like grasses and shrubs, which stabilize sediments and provide habitat for wildlife. The local community utilizes these landscapes for grazing, harvesting, and temporary fishing. This study highlights the interaction between flooding, vegetation succession, and human activities, emphasizing the importance of understanding these dynamics for managing riverbanks, protecting ecosystems, and sustaining livelihoods in flood-prone areas like Alokdia Char.

Field Activities

• Professor was showing us what types of agricultural goods can be produced in this sandy soil
• Analyzing the timing and duration of flood events by examining sediment layers

Key Findings

• Dynamic sandbar formation and seasonal submergence patterns
• Pioneer vegetation supporting ecosystem stability
• Community utilization for grazing and temporary fishing

Impact

Provided insights for riverbank management and ecosystem protection in flood-prone areas.

River Dynamics and Socio-Economic Vulnerabilities of the Santal Communities in Northern Bangladesh

We visited the Dhepa River in northern Bangladesh, focusing on its physical characteristics and the socio-economic challenges faced by local Santal communities.

The river features typical alluvial traits like meanders and sandbars, which shape the landscape and impact agriculture. The Santal rely on fishing, small-scale farming, and forest resources for their livelihoods. They face issues such as seasonal flooding, bank erosion, and inadequate infrastructure, which lead to vulnerabilities in education, health, and income stability. Despite these challenges, the Santal have traditional strategies to adapt to environmental uncertainties. This paper highlights the connection between river processes and human livelihoods, emphasizing the need for sustainable river management and socio-economic empowerment for these communities.

Field Activities

• The professor was demonstrating techniques for calculating river bathymetry and examining the characteristics of the river
• Visited Kantajew Temple, one of the ancient Hindu temples in Dinajpur known for its beautiful architecture and spiritual significance, catering to both religious and tourist interests while preserving cultural heritage

Key Findings

• Alluvial river characteristics shaping local agriculture
• Bank erosion threatening community settlements
• Traditional Santal adaptation strategies

Impact

Emphasized sustainable river management and socio-economic empowerment for indigenous communities.