Abstract:
Abstract
Developing climate resilient pathways have become an optimal strategy to
achieve sustainable development. The goal of the study is to design climate
resilient development pathways (that are, development trajectories that combine
adaptation and mitigation to realise the goal of sustainable development) to
catalyse the sustainability of coastal agricultural systems (CAS). Author
developed resilient pathways by using four sequential steps (i) identifying
climatic and non-climatic risks of CAS; (ii) determining synergies and trade-offs
between adaptation, mitigation and agricultural development; (iii) developing
strategies for effective institutional management; and (iv) designing development
trajectories that combine productivity, adaptation and mitigation of CAS. Key
research instruments included key informant interviews (KlIs), household
surveys, focus group discussions (FGD) and participatory workshops in four
upazilas of two districts, using structured questionnaires. The results showed that
soil salinization, impeded drainage, and coastal flooding were extremely high
risks to CAS. Researcher determined synergies and tradeoffs by exploring
farmers' activities and practices. To arrange the complicated information linked to
CAS, the DPSIR (Drivers, Pressures, States, Impacts and Responses) tool was
used. To design pathways, two workshops were organised in two districts. Onfarm
water harvesting and agroforestry were identified as synergies and
converting farming land to shrimp ponds and degrading coastal wetlands as
tradeoffs that occur frequently. For developing effective institutional mechanisms
four mechanisms were found most important which are; improving organisational
learning, engaging key stakeholders, increasing organisational accountability, and
enhancing coordination. Conserving and improving coastal natural resources,
scaling up climate resilient water management, adoption of diversified farming
practices was found to be the best practices for climate resilient development
pathways of the CAS in Bangladesh. Major policy implications towards the
implementation of climate resilient development pathways were outlined.
Keywords: synergy, tradeoffs, climate resilient development, adaptation, mitigation, coastal zone
