SUSTAINABLE RIVER BANK PROTECTION METHODS: PERCEPTION OF LOCAL PEOPLE OF CHILMARI UPAZILA, KURIGRAM DISTRICT, BANGLADESH

SUSTAINABLE RIVER BANK PROTECTION

METHODS: PERCEPTION OF LOCAL

PEOPLE OF CHILMARI UPAZILA,

KURIGRAM DISTRICT

Presented By:

Mahmud Hasan Tuhin

MSc. Student

IWFM-BUET

Introduction

River bank erosion is the most common problem in alluvial river.

The erosion causes a lot of damage.

The bank erosion control structures are usually expensive, massive and not

compatible with environment and aesthetic.

Sustainable bank erosion control structure is compatible with environment

and also low cost.

The Brahmaputra-Jamuna is the second largest river in Bangladesh and one

of the largest in the world.

The Jamuna is braided in nature. Within the braided belt of the Jamuna, there

are lots of chars of different sizes.

The Jamuna River has destroyed and continues to threaten significant areas

of settlements, farmed land and infrastructure.

In entire Bangladesh during 1981 to 1993, a total of about 729,000 people

were displaced by river bank erosion. More than half of the displacement was

along the Jamuna.

Objectives

To find out local adaptation strategies.

To find out sustainable erosion protection technique proposed by the local

people.

To find out available local resources, which can be used in river bank erosion

protection.

To find out the most vulnerable group of the study area.

The main objectives of the field survey is as follows:

Study area

Chilmari Upazila of Kurigram district which is situated beside the

Brahmaputra-Jamuna river and severely affected by the river bank erosion.

Figure 1: Map of Bangladesh and

Kurigram District

Figure 2: Map of Chilmari Upazila

and red circle shows the study area

Jamuna

River

Study Area

Figure 3: A landmark Showing the name of the river Brahamaputra by BWDB

Methodology

Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA)

Participatory rural appraisal is an approach used by researcher aims to incorporate

the knowledge and opinions of local people in the planning and management of

development projects and programs.

Focus Group Discussion (FGD)

FGD is an effective tool for PRA, by which qualitative information are collected form

the local people.

The focus group was:

10 to 12 male

Affected by river bank erosion

Observing the erosion from early of their life.

Have idea about river bank protection measures.

Key Informants Interview (KII)

This tool is used for collecting data from individual affected group, particularly

women and children.

Present Situation

Figure 4: Existing protection measurement and erosion (source: field study)

Present Situation

Figure 5: Massive erosion near protection work (Source: Field Study)

Present Situation

Figure 6: Road and embankment under threat (Source: Field Study)

Present Situation

Figure 7: Recent erosion in dry season (Source: Field Study)

Present Situation

Figure 8: Ghat, agricultural land and vegetation under threat (Source: Field Study)

Present Situation

Figure 9: Vegetation under threat (Source: Field Study)

Present Situation

Figure 10: Homestead under threat (Source: Field Study)

Discussion

What are the local

people’s idea about

erosion protection?

Figure 11: FGD with local people

Is the current

protection measures

effective or sustainable?

Is sustainable

erosion protection

possible for that area?

What are the

indigenous adaptation

technique ?

Discussion

What is the meaning of the word “SUSTAINABLE”?

There are many definitions of sustainable.

But commonly we know, sustainable must fulfill the following points:

Environment friendly

Economically efficient

Socially acceptable

But according to local people, those points are known to them by as

follows:

Which will not harm to the environment.

Locally available and cheap in price.

And which will not affect the social norms and will not affect any

group of society.

Discussion

People’s perception about sustainable erosion protection measures:

From FGD, people suggest some option, those are:

Bamboo pilling with Bundle like structure.

Protecting riverbanks with vegetation (example: , Banana,

Grass, Dhoincha)

Sand filled plastic bag

Fencing with bamboo and straw

The following options are made by the local people on the basis

of local resource base and indigenous Knowledge.

Available Local Resources Bamboo

Dhaincha plant grown near char lands

Straw from paddy field

Sand collected from near char lands

Other local grasses or small plants

Discussion

SAND DHAINCHA

BAMBOO STRAW

Figure 12: Local available materials can be used for bank erosion protection

Discussion

Figure 13: Local erosion protection measures (Source: Field Survey)

BANANA TREEDHANICHA

STRAW AND BAMBOO FENCHING

VEGETATION OF BANANA TREE

SAND BAG FILLING

Discussion

Local Adaptation Strategies

Local people are very adaptive with erosion. From the FGD the following

strategies are identified:

Movable housing materials.

Relocate near from river to near road or embankment.

Invest money in movable assets, like: cattle.

Shifting of other movable properties.

Migration to another permanent char land or near by or distant town.

Discussion

Temporary house

Migration to near char landMigration to near char landMigration to near char land Movable asset like cattle

Figure 14 : Some indigenous adaptation technique (Source: Field Survey)

Movable asset like cattle

Shifting house near road

Discussion

MOST VULNARABLE GROUP

From the key informants interview and from the discussion of FGD it is found

that most vulnerable groups are shown here correspondingly :

1. Women and children.

2.Middle class farmer,

3. Low income group

The main possible reasons of vulnerability is shown here:

Group Main Causes

Women and children They can’t move easily from home, like male they are

not able to move here and there, their special needs

are not available, gender discrimination, social

insecurity, abandon by husband or parents, etc.

Middle class farmer Limited land, if eroded they can’t buy new one, Not

enough money to migrate or relocate their assets.

Low income group Not enough money for migration or relocation.

Main outcome of FGD

Summary of FGD and Interview results

Erosion cause a huge economic, property and some time life loss for the local

area.

Livelihood affected by erosion.

Erosion force to migrate and relocate of local people.

Erosion is one of the main cause of poverty in that are.

Local adaptation technique are not sufficient.

Local people need more adaptation technique.

Sustainable erosion protection is possible by using local resources.

Materials of sustainable erosion technique are available and cheap.

Most vulnerable group of erosion are women and children, middle class farmers

and low income group respectively.

Conclusion

River bank erosion is such a disaster, which can make people rich

from poor instantly.

Every year a significant number of people is displaced due to erosion.

Erosion protection need a massive engineering intervention.

Which is very costly and sometime not sustain properly.

Like a country like Bangladesh, where engineering interventions are

very costly, there sustainable erosion protection technique probably a

good solution for erosion protection.

The local resource is available for sustainable erosion protection

technique.

Indigenous knowledge will be used in such types of activities.

For that more research and study is needed for this type of

environment friendly technique.