Nature’s Contributions to People (NCP) of rural freshwater ponds in Bangladesh: An exploration of the impacts of pondscape degradation

Abstract Rural freshwater ponds in Bangladesh are vital socio-ecological systems that provide essential Nature’s Contributions to People (NCPs), including water provisioning, flood regulation, livelihood support, and cultural sustenance. However, rapid degradation due to pollution, privatization, and mismanagement threatens these benefits, disproportionately affecting marginalized communities. This study examines the impacts of pondscape decline in Sultanpur village, Chattogram, through semi-structured surveys with 210 residents. Findings reveal a stark reduction in material NCPs, with only 26.9% of households still relying on ponds for daily water needs due to contamination and shifting preferences for privatized alternatives like tube wells. Regulating contributions, such as flood buffering and microclimate cooling, have diminished, exacerbating climate vulnerabilities. Most critically, immaterial NCPs, such as spiritual practices, community cohesion, and mental well-being, are eroding, severing cultural ties to these once-thriving commons. Women, the primary water managers, face heightened health risks and labor burdens, while elders express solastalgia over lost traditions like religious rituals and communal storytelling. Drivers include pollution from septic systems, disputes over shared ownership, and policy neglect that prioritizes engineered infrastructure over ecological stewardship. The study underscores ponds as undervalued Nature-based Solutions (NbS) and calls for integrated governance that restores biocultural heritage, prioritizes equitable access, and aligns local knowledge with national conservation strategies. Without urgent intervention, the continued degradation of pondscapes risks irreversible losses to biodiversity, climate resilience, and the rural well-being in Bangladesh.