Development of a sustainable livelihood security model for storm-surge hazard in the coastal areas of Bangladesh

• Published in: Stochastic environmental research and risk assessment Vol. 30; no. 5; pp. 1301 - 1315
• Main Authors: Mutahara, Mahmuda, Haque, Anisul, Khan, M. Shah Alam, Warner, Jeroen F., Wester, Philippus
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.05.2016; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Analytic hierarchy process; Aquatic Pollution; Bangladesh; Chemistry and Earth Sciences; Coastal; Coastal areas; Coastal zone; Coasts; Community; Computational Intelligence; Computer Science; Cyclones; Decapoda; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Environment; Farmers; Farming; Forest resources; Hazard; Livelihood; Livelihood security; Marine resources; Math. Appl. in Environmental Science; Multi- criteria analysis; Multiple criteria decision making; Original Paper; Physics; Probability Theory and Stochastic Processes; Risk assessment; Security; Shellfish; Statistics for Engineering; Stochastic models; Storm-surge; Storms; Surges; Sustainable development; Sustainable livelihood; Tidal waves; Wages; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; Water security; Bangladesh; ISW, Bangladesh, Khulna, Satkhira; ISW, Bangladesh; ISW, Bangladesh, Southern, Cox's Bazar; Bangladesh; Storm-surge; Livelihood security; Multi- criteria analysis; Hazard; Community; Coastal zone
• ISSN: 1436-3240; 1436-3259
• DOI: 10.1007/s00477-016-1232-8

Coastal communities in Bangladesh are at great risk due to frequent cyclones and cyclone induced storm-surges, which damages inland and marine resource systems. In the present research, seven marginal livelihood groups including Farmers, Fisherman, Fry (shrimp) collectors, Salt farmers, Dry fishers, Forest resource extractors, and Daily wage labourers are identified to be extremely affected by storm- surges in the coastal area of Bangladesh. A livelihood security model was developed to investigate the security status of the coastal livelihood system in a participatory approach. In the model, livelihood security consists of five components: (1) Food, (2) Income, (3) Life & health, (4) House & properties, and (5) Water security. Analytical hierarchy process was followed to assess the livelihood security indicators based on respondents’ security options. The model was verified through direct field observation and expert judgment. The Livelihood Security Model yields a Livelihood Security Index which can be used for assessing and comparing the household security level (in %) of different livelihood groups in the storm-surge prone coastal areas. The model was applied with data from two major coastal areas ( Cox’s Bazar and Satkhira ) of Bangladesh and is applicable to other coastal areas having similar settings.