A Comprehensive analysis of drought vulnerability in the Barind region of Bangladesh: A socio-ecological systems approach

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to investigate the vulnerability to climate change in the drought-prone region of Bangladesh through the utilization of a social-ecological system framework. The research was conducted in three sub-districts of Bangladesh prone to drought: Atrai, Nachole, and Tanore. The entropy method used exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity indicators to estimate vulnerability. The data was obtained by administering a structured questionnaire to 100 households and gathering meteorological information. The study’s findings reveal that the Barind region, namely Atrai, Nachol, and Tanore, exhibit a high level of sensitivity to climate change, as evidenced by their respective sensitivity indices of 0.465, 0.47, and 0.507. Additionally, the region demonstrates moderate adaptive potential, as evidenced by their corresponding indices. Specifically, Atrai, Nachol, and Tanore possess scores of 0.577, -0.48, and -0.191, respectively. The study areas exhibit high drought severity exposure, as evidenced by the values of Atrai-0.555, Nachol-0.595, and Tanore-0.551. Moreover, the study indicates that the capacity to handle drought is moderately vulnerable to climate change and requires economic cooperation to prepare for future conditions. Key initiatives include providing financial support for smallholder farmers, enforcing agricultural policies, investing in social capital, and implementing government-backed infrastructure and technology enhancements, all crucial for building resilience against climate change. The research findings can provide a foundation for making climate adaptation decisions in the Barind region and other comparable locations across the globe.