Inhabiting the World’s Largest Tropical Delta: Understanding Human-Environment Relationship from a Century-Long Archaeological Quest in Bangladesh

Due to the exceptionally rich tropical resource, the Lower Ganges-Brahmaputra basins have attracted people of diverse ethnic and geographical backgrounds for millennia. So far 524 protected sites in present Bangladesh indicate the busy human occupation in the world’s largest delta at least from 5th century BCE. Although systematic archaeology began in the 1870s there is still a paucity of knowledge about past human land use and livelihood strategies across this area, which is especially prone to floods, cyclones, and river migrations. Here we attempt a systematic survey of human-environment interactions in ancient deltaic Bangladesh. Revisiting the fragmentary information from archaeological records and epigraphic references produced through over a century-long archaeological legacy, this study is the first attempt at a synthesis of the changing relationships between ancient people and their environment elements including land, water bodies, flora and fauna.

Determinants of households’ livelihood diversification strategies to adapt with natural disasters: Evidence from ecologically vulnerable haor region of Bangladesh

The haor region of Bangladesh is exposed to a variety of natural disasters such as flash floods, seasonal floods, droughts, riverbank erosions, embankment breaches due to climate change, which impacts the haor people's lives and livelihoods. The study aims to assess the various livelihood strategies adopted by the haor households, as well as the factors that influence their decision to pursue more environmentally friendly and sustainable livelihood strategies. The primary data from the 300 haor households in Kishoregonj, Netrokona and Sunamgonj districts were collected with a multi-stage stratified random sample technique taking 100 of each district. We provide inimitable insight into the analysis framework for understanding sustainable rural livelihood, as well as empirical evidence of how livelihood resources, livelihood strategies, and livelihood outcomes are strongly interrelated. The study classified households’ economic activities into five distinct categories together with crop farming to cope with natural disasters. Among the livelihood options, crop plus livestock rearing is the most productive livelihood strategy for haor households. The findings revealed that the higher returning livelihood diversification strategies are significantly influenced by the household’s head age and education, dependency ratio, land holdings, household assets value, access to credit, annual income, membership of any organization, home to road, market, and haor distances, communication during the dry season, duration of waterlogged, and agro-ecology. In order to change the local context and enable poor households to establish more profitable livelihood strategies, policies should aim to promote the significant determinants of livelihood strategies, as well as ensure livelihood assets, a strong infrastructure, and minimize natural disasters.

Exploring the Livelihoods of Internally Displaced Persons in Kachin State, Myanmar

<p>The issue of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) is a global crisis yet little research has been focused on the issue of the livelihoods of IDPs. Providing short-term emergency assistance is not enough when the period of displacement becomes permanent or longer than expected. IDPs need long-term solutions in order to resume a normal life. Pursuing appropriate livelihoods in urban areas is a big challenge yet constructing potential livelihoods is fundamental to achieving decent living not only for short-term situations but also for the long run. The lack of access to livelihoods is one of the most serious obstacles to durable solutions for IDPs, and long-term livelihood strategies are needed to lay the foundation for future development. This study explores Kachin IDPs in Myanmar and their livelihood strategies and activities in urban camps by applying qualitative methods, the study focuses on how IDPs have been building their livelihoods during their displacement and who has been involved in supporting their livelihoods. This research also seeks insight into the effectiveness and sustainability of those livelihood activities and other potential strategies. Results show that most livelihood activities are supported by both local and international humanitarian and development agencies and are mainly undertaken through local organisations. Agriculture and livestock rearing are preferred livelihoods of IDPs although getting appropriate land is challenging in urban areas. Income-generating programmes such as food processing, carpentry and bamboo handicrafts are also popular and successful activities. Moreover, tailoring, brick making, and pig rearing are also effective and helpful livelihoods for individuals. Those who are involved in livelihood support activities receive benefits and advantages for their family and daily needs while the majority of IDPs are working in day labouring. Respondents believe current livelihood activities can become sustainable as long as they maintain the quality of the products. Some IDPs have adapted to the city environment quite well by applying their capacity and the skills they learnt from humanitarian organisations. Supporting livelihood strategies may not resolve the problems of IDPs, however, it is an effective partial solution.</p>

Exploring the Livelihoods of Internally Displaced Persons in Kachin State, Myanmar

<p>The issue of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) is a global crisis yet little research has been focused on the issue of the livelihoods of IDPs. Providing short-term emergency assistance is not enough when the period of displacement becomes permanent or longer than expected. IDPs need long-term solutions in order to resume a normal life. Pursuing appropriate livelihoods in urban areas is a big challenge yet constructing potential livelihoods is fundamental to achieving decent living not only for short-term situations but also for the long run. The lack of access to livelihoods is one of the most serious obstacles to durable solutions for IDPs, and long-term livelihood strategies are needed to lay the foundation for future development. This study explores Kachin IDPs in Myanmar and their livelihood strategies and activities in urban camps by applying qualitative methods, the study focuses on how IDPs have been building their livelihoods during their displacement and who has been involved in supporting their livelihoods. This research also seeks insight into the effectiveness and sustainability of those livelihood activities and other potential strategies. Results show that most livelihood activities are supported by both local and international humanitarian and development agencies and are mainly undertaken through local organisations. Agriculture and livestock rearing are preferred livelihoods of IDPs although getting appropriate land is challenging in urban areas. Income-generating programmes such as food processing, carpentry and bamboo handicrafts are also popular and successful activities. Moreover, tailoring, brick making, and pig rearing are also effective and helpful livelihoods for individuals. Those who are involved in livelihood support activities receive benefits and advantages for their family and daily needs while the majority of IDPs are working in day labouring. Respondents believe current livelihood activities can become sustainable as long as they maintain the quality of the products. Some IDPs have adapted to the city environment quite well by applying their capacity and the skills they learnt from humanitarian organisations. Supporting livelihood strategies may not resolve the problems of IDPs, however, it is an effective partial solution.</p>

Environment Change and Sustainable Livelihoods in Ethnic Villages Tourism Development of China

The rapid development of ethnic tourism in China has led to changes in the social and economic environment and local livelihood strategies. This study aims to illustrate the environmental changes and the effects of livelihood strategies in ethnic tourism development. Based on the Sustainable Livelihood Approach (SLA), this study proposed the Sustainable Tourism Livelihood Framework (STLF) and designed the indicator system. The Jinglai ethnic tourism village case study showed the changing process and comparison of livelihood capitals with different livelihood strategies. The study found that the number of Tourism-based Strategies (TBS)and Tourism Strategies (TS) families increases, and the TS livelihood capital is the highest, and the Highly Participation Degree (HPD) family’s capital is also higher. Meanwhile, family members have intergenerational differences in livelihood strategies. Finally, the suggestions about tourism community governance, such as environmental governance, knowledge training, and sustainable assessment, were proposed.