Assessment of indigenous knowledge and technology used for climate adaptation and resilience in coastal area of Bangladesh

People of coastal areas in Bangladesh faces consequences of climate change in the forms of heat waves, SLR, salinity intrusion, drought, flood, cyclones and storm surges. This research addresses how people are using indigenous pieces of knowledge and technology to become climate resilient in coastal areas. Three case study sites from the coastal areas were selected to conduct a detailed and in-depth analysis. Field data was collected to analyze the existing challenges of the local communities due to the adverse climatic conditions using field survey through one to one interview, Focus Group Discussion (FGD) and Key Informant’s Interview (KII). The survey, FGD and KII revealed that sufferings of coastal people knows no bounds. The farmers and fishermen, the most vulnerable communities have been struggling constantly to cope up with their lives and livelihoods with the adverse impact of climate change through practicing different adaptation techniques. They are surviving using their indigenous knowledge and techniques. Those locally led adaptation techniques need to be recognized. The local community requires support from authority to make them climate resilient. The vulnerable people need financial help immediately after a climate change event occurs to recover their houses, availability of safe drinking water, and health care services. Access to climate adaptive agriculture, building sustainable infrastructures, promoting industrialization for creating employment are crucial needs for coastal areas to confront and sustain with the inimical situation of nature. More advanced research is also essential to figure out changing patterns of climate change events in coastal area of Bangladesh.