Exploring the Potential and Limitations of Nature Based Solutions in Minimizing Environmental Degradation in Chakaria Sub-District, South-East Coastal Region of Bangladesh

Exploring the Potential and Limitations of Nature Based Solutions in Minimizing as a
Sustainable Approach to Reversing Environmental Degradation and Restoring Ecosystem
Services: A Case ofin Chakaria Sub-Ddistrict, South-Eastern Coastal Region of
Bangladesh

List of Acronyms:
ADB: Asian Development Bank
BCCSAP: Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan
CCA: Climate Change Adaptation
DDM: Department of Disaster Management
DMC: Disaster Management Committee
DoE: Department of Environment
DRR: Disaster Risk Reduction
EbA: Ecosystem-based Adaptation
ED: Environmental Degradation
Eco-DRR: Ecosystem-based Disaster Risk Reduction
EbM: Ecosystem-based Management
EIA: Environmental Impact Assessment
ES: Ecosystem Services
ESV: Ecosystem Service Valuation
FAO: Food and Agricultural Organisation
FGD: Focus Group Discussion
GIS: Geographic Information System
IPCC: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
KII: Key Informant Interview
LGED: Local Government Engineering Department
MEA: Millennium Ecosystem Assessment
MoA: Ministry of Agriculture
MoEF: Ministry of Forest and Environment
MoDMR: Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief
MoWR: Ministries of Water Resource
NbS: Nature-based Solutions
SDGs: Sustainable Development Goals
SLR: Sea Level Rise
TEK: Traditional Ecological Knowledge
UNISRD: United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction
WB: World Bank
WEF: World Economic Forum

ABSTRACT
Damages to coastal ecosystems, especially mangrove forest has serous economic implications,
resulting in the loss of $ 42 billion each year. ED is a major challenge faced by the world at large
and in locales, including the study area of Chakaria Sub-district in the South-Eastern Coastal
region of Bangladesh. The area has experienced massive Environmental Degradation due to over
exploitation of the natural coastal ecosystems (mangrove, coral, sea grass, and aquatic resources),
resulting in significant losses in ES (mangrove, coral, sea grass, and aquatic resources) and
increased exposure to natural hazards such as cyclones and high ocean tides. Despite several
policies and laws enacted by Bangladesh, not much has been achieved in terms of environmental
conservation or reversing ED and restoring ES, largely due to the wrong overall approach in
because the present science based policies implementation have not achieved their desired
objectives as witnessed by the continued environmental degradation of the Chakaria Sub-District
Costal Ecosystem and loss of Ecosystem Services. This proposed study aims at showing that NbS
is the best approach exploring the possibility of nature Based Solutions, integrated with existisng
environmental protection policies as being a promising solution to minimizing the imapcts of
environmental degradation to tackling the problem of ED and its resultant outcomes such as
climate change, loss of Ecosystem Services, biodiversity loss, and and greater exposure to natural
phenomena such as cyclones and hurricaneshazards. The proposed research seeks to understand
the reasons for the continued ED of the Chakaria Sub-district ecosystem, including mangrove and
aquatic resources despite the presence of very good laws and policies to protect the environment.
The proposed research also seeks to gain deeper insights on the challenges of implementing the
policies and further reinforce the novelty of NbS as a possible solution that is broad based,
sustainable, and can incorporate other interventions including artificial infrastructure and some of
the effective laws and policies that have been tried and proven, with the community highly
involved in its implementation. The proposal believes ES can best be restored and maintained
using NbS. Using an exploratory research design and a survey involving experts and players
already involved in environmental conservation efforts, this proposed research will demonstrate
the validitypotential of using NbS to arrestminimize the impacts of continued ED in the study
area and ensure sustainable ES and biodiversity restoration and show that it is the best answer to
the research objective and questions.

1. Introduction
This section introduces the research topic and provides a background of the study topic and the
study area.
The cost of environmental degradation continues to rise; the destruction of mangrove forests,
which is a carbon rich ecosyste, costs $ 42 billion every year and the effects can be devastating
given that 90% of the world mangroves are found in least developed nations (United Nations
Environment Programme, 2014). The past centuries have seen immense and continued
degradation of our environment due to expanding populations, natural resource extraction, and
human activities, the mains ones being such as increased industrialization, human population
growth, over extraction of natural resources, and agricultural activites (Barbier, 2013). The
resulted impact is apparent in almost every part of our beloved planet that has not been left
untouched by human activity. The main cause of environmental degradation still remains human
activities and this began with the 17th century industrial revolution that began in Europe and
spread to other parts of the globe, in which the manufacture of goods and production was
mechanized (Landes, 1969).(Goudie, 2019). These activities used machines and equipment that in
turn utilized fossil energy to power them, adversely affecting the environment (Choudhary, et al.,
2015). The rate of population growth was exponential and increased human pressure to exploit
natural resources for commercial and sustenance activities has led to Environmental Degradation
(ED) (Day, et al., 2018). ED refers to the exhaustion of natural resources of the world that include
soil, water, air, and land because of human disturbances to nature (El-Haggar, 2007)(Willow,
2014). These include irresponsible waste disposal, over cultivation, human activities such as
construction in fragile ecosystems, pollution from fossil fuels, plastic, and chemical
contamination (El-Haggar, 2007)(Willow, 2014). Fragile ecosystems such as coastal regions face
increased human activity because of the benefits derived from their ecological services and
commercial potential such as for tourism, real estate development, fishing activities, and as a
source of water and sea/ ocean/ lake products (Watson, et al., 2018). The exploitation of coastal
habitats and resources is a direct function of the human socio-economic development and
population (Goudie, 2013). Nearly 40% of the world’s population live along coastal regions, and
with accelerated population growth means increased use of natural resources, and this contributed
significantly to the degradation of coastal environments (Surjan, et al., 2016).
The damages to the environment caused by human activity are significant, with the financial
impact being $ 10.6 trillion annually due to land degradation (Odera & Noel, 2015). There was
significant disasters that are anthropogenic- these range from oil spills to nuclear test fallouts and
accidents, some of which have been world changing (LaSane, 2019). Examples include the dust

bowl, the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, early nuclear tests by the US, Exxon Valdez oil spillage, the
Deep Water Horizon oil spillage, Flint Water Crisis, Great Smog of London, and the Cynanide
gas leak of Union Carbide, among others (LaSane, 2019). However, most environmental
degradation (ED) due to human activity remain subtle, but even more devastating because they
occur gradually over a longer time period, for instance, increased over exploitation of marine
resources (Azam, 2016). Massive losses in biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (ES)
deterioration has been experienced within the world over time due to deforestation from
competitive resource exploitation and the resultant ED took place (Ciccarese, et al., 2012). South
East Asia has experienced the highest deforestation levels compared to all other tropical regions
in the last thirty years alone (Miettinen, et al., 2011). This region is a massive carbon sink and has
a very rich biodiversity such that deforestation has severe consequences on a global scale
(Miettinen, et al., 2011). In South East AisaAsia, the rate of loss of the critical mangrove forest
from 2000s to early 2010s was 0.18% annually. The main drivers of this mangrove ecosystem
loss in this region was rice cultivation and aquaculture such as shrimp farming (Richards &
Friess, 2015).
A complex mix of mosaic landscapes, human population pressure, small holder agriculture,
poorly implemented policies, and exploitation of forests are at the center of forest destruction and
mangrove ecosystem degradation in the South and South East of Asia (Mertz, et al., 2012).
Bangladesh, a lush nation with several water ways in the South of Asia, has not been spared the
global phenomena of accelerating ED and faces serious problems with its environment, including
land degradation, water shortages, air pollution, contamination of water and land resources, and
loss of biodiversity (Giasuddin, 2019). The coastal regions are of particular concern due to ED in
Bangladesh (and India) have some of the largest mangrove resources in the world located at the
western to south eastern coast, at Chakaria which have experienced accelerated destruction of
Mangrove forest Sundarbans and the surrounding waters due to increased fishing activities
(shrimp farming activities), Salt cultivation, human settlements, and wood harvesting (Mitra &
Sharma, 2010). The destruction of this vital natural resource has exposed the area to increased
erosion, decreased protection from cyclones, tidal waves, and flooding (Deb and Ferreira, 2017) .
The regional water systems have also been altered with fragile coastal habitats being damaged as
a result, leading to disturbances in climate stability and balance in coastal Ecosystem Services
(ES) (Gonsalves & Mohan, 2011). Corals have not been spared either due to destructive fishing,
sedimentation, mining, tourism, mining, trade in coral and the effects of global warming
(Subramanian, 2012).

This proposal aims at addressing and proposing practical ES-Based Sustainable interventions to
stem and reverse the ED of the Chakaria sub-district, located in the South Eastern Coastal region
of Bangladesh. This proposal seeks to explore the potential of Nature based Solutions in limiting
limiting the impacts of Environmental Degradation in the study area, and if it can help restore
some Ecosystem Services. This proposed research will also explore the potential of using Nature
based Solutions together with other approaches such as effective policy implementation in
limiting the impacts of Environmnetal Degradation as well as its (nature based Solutions)
limitations. After this brief introduction to provide a background of the problem, the proposal
states the specific research problem, as well as define the aims and objectives of the study, as well
as a guiding research question. This is followed by a detailed review of literature and a
description of the methodology to be used for the research as well as how the findings will be
analyzed. A plan for executing the project is then discussed and conclusions drawn.
Therefore, in this research, different solution that can assist in developing the appropriate
practices that can be adopted in order to improve the current problem will be identified and
discussed. The variety of strategies that have been suggested will be analysed and already
ongoing projects that have the people and community of Bangladesh are undertaking will be
highlighted in the research. There are many strategies like Coastal Embankment Projects,
mangrove protection committees etc. that are trying to act a as a barrier towards further
exploitation of the natural ecosystem that Bangladesh was granted and are doing a significant
work in order to improve the already depleted ecological system of Bangladesh (Jabed, et al.,
2018). However, the effect of such projects is not giving quick results and the loopholes are
continuously being developed for every law or strategy that is being implemented toward
environment protection (Rinkesh, 2019) (Sohel & Ullah, 2012). Therefore, it is now imperative to
conduct a proper research that will help in identifying and comparing all the strategies that can be
adopted for the preservation of the environment and ensuring to reduce further depletion. The
analysis of all the possible strategies would lead in identification of one most appropriate
strategies and decision can be then made accordingly (Sohel & Ullah, 2012). The the appropriate
strategies that will be identified after this through analysis of all the possible strategies would
then be evaluated in terms of what are the probable challenges or problems that can arise in the
implementation of these strategies and then the solution that can be used to bridge up the possible
problems would be then detailed in the research.
1.1 Statement of the Problem
At present, the human population and nearly all life forms are living in an unsustainable manner
that is totally unsustainable due to the current global environmental crisis being witnessed in

many parts of the world (Singh and Singh, 2016). The main cause of the crisis is human
activities associated with the over consumption/ exploitation of natural resources that include
water, air, soil; wildlife eradication, and the destructiondisruption of various environments and
the resultant disturbances within ecosystems (Piguet, 2010). These combined effects result in
environmental degradation- the disintegration and deterioration of the environment, characterized
by an undesirable aggravation or change in the nature’s turf (Singh and Singh, 2016). An
expanding human population that is constantly engaged in ever increasing monetary pursuits by
exhausting natural assets using technologies that pollute fragile ecosystems and environments
causes these environments’ resources to be depleteIncreasing commercial natural resource
exploration and extraction through mining, commercial agriculture, real estate development and
human settlements have resulted in various forms of damages to the environment and disruption
of ecosystems. These damages and disruptions include natural flora and fauns destruction,
ecological disturbances, land, air, and water pollution, desertification, landscape degradation,
rock and soil masses instability, and global warming (Dafermos, Nikolaidi and Galanis, 2017)d
(Downey, Bonds & Clark, 2010). This depletion occurs in the form of species extinction,
pollution of air, water, and soils, rapid population growth, and adverse interactions with natural
environments and ecosystems such as over fishing, deforestation, over extraction of natural
resources, and disturbance to delicate balances within clearing ecosystems for human
infrastructure development (Ahuti, 2015).
Increased demand for natural resources and fossil fuels, extensive agricultural activities,
aquaculture, rubber and palm oil plantations, illegal wildlife trade, and over-exploitation of
forests has been causing unprecedented biodiversity loss and ED on a global scale (Valencia,
2020). Environmental degradation (ED) is among the most existential threats to life on the planet
and is being given high level priority among global stakeholders. The UN International Strategy
for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) views ED as reducing the earth’s limit to meet environmental
and social destinations, and needs (Kasperson, Kasperson, Turner II, Hsieh & Schiller, 2005)
(Shakeela and Becken, 2014). The main drivers of ED are human activities including population
explosion, transportation, industrialization, urbanization, and other anthropogenic activities,
although non anthropogenic activities are also causes of ED (Piguet, 2010). ED has in turn
created several global scale problems that include climate change and global warming and
associated climat change; among the most important challenges the world faces today. The
effects of ED are many, the significant ones being the depletion of the ozone layer, loss of
biodiversity, adverse effects on human health, loss of ecological services (ES), economic impacts
(negative) including increased poverty, and greater exposure to natural disasters (Warner,
Hamza, Oliver-Smith, Renaud & Julca, 2009).