Impacts of salinity intrusion on livelihood assets: Evidence from the southern regions of Bangladesh

Despite growing concern over climatic stressors, empirical evidence remains limited on how salinity intrusion affects household livelihoods such as income sources, natural resources and adaptive capacities in developing countries. This study investigates the impacts of salinity intrusion on household income and access to various resources across the three coastal sub-districts of Bangladesh: Kalapara (high salinity), Patharghata (high salinity), and Taltali (moderate salinity). Data from 400 households are analyzed using regression techniques to assess variations in income and asset access across salinity zones. Results show that compared to Taltali, households in Kalapara experience significantly higher agricultural and non-agricultural income by 37% and 21%, respectively, while those in Patharghata face the two types of income being lower by 17% and 11%. Access to information enhances income by 7.3%, underscoring its role in economic resilience. Gender disparities persist in income generation, resource access, and community participation. Education supports adaptive farming and livelihood diversification, while older population face heightened vulnerability due to limited freshwater access. Marginal effects show that high salinity reduces the likelihood of access to open water bodies and forest resources by 10.2 and 72.0% points, respectively. The results highlight regional disparities in salinity stress and access to resources. These findings imply a need for region-specific policies. High-salinity zones should prioritize non-agricultural income generation, expanding access to localized climate information, and implementing education programs on adaptive farming and freshwater management. • Salinity intrusion impacts the livelihood assets of coastal communities • All five livelihood assets show widespread and interconnected impacts. • Impacts vary by gender, region, age, and access to information • Income diversification helps reduce salinity-related livelihood stress. • Region-specific policies are needed to build resilience in high-salinity areas.