Analyzing the multi-hazard coastal vulnerability of Matla–Bidya inter-estuarine area of Indian Sundarbans using analytical hierarchy process and geospatial techniques

Abstract

In the current global climate change era, the Indian Sundarbans Delta (ISD) is severely exposed to multiple environmental disasters especially high-intensity tropical cyclones, storm surges and flood inundation. These disasters threaten the lives and livelihoods of coastal communities. To formulate a disaster risk reduction strategy, it is necessary to identify priority areas based on their level of vulnerability. Therefore, this research aims to assess the multi-hazard coastal vulnerability of the Matla–Bidya Inter-estuarine (MBI) area of ISD considering exposure, sensitivity, and adaptability. The coastal vulnerability was derived in this study based on a total of 26 indicators using the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) in combination with remote sensing data and geospatial techniques. To better understand the impacts of recent natural disasters, a field survey was conducted in each village from 2020 to 2021 to collect information directly from households regarding the effects of recent disasters on the different aspects of livelihoods. The present study found that the coastal villages in the Basanti and Gosaba Blocks located within the southern MBI are the most vulnerable due to coastal proximity, tropical cyclones, storm surges and flooding incidents. The high exposure and sensitivity cause potential effects on coastal environments and a lack of resistance to environmental disasters, leading to a considerable increase in coastal vulnerability. Local people's livelihoods are at risk in almost 33% of MBI villages. In contrast, villages in the northern MBI, in the Canning II Block are less susceptible to the effects of extreme events due to better resilience. This village-level multi-hazard vulnerability study helps to identify priority areas considering the vulnerability level of each village and accordingly proposed effective strategic planning for environmental and socio-economic resilience.