IMPACT OF WATERLOGGING ON LAND USE, BIODIVERSITY AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES IN TALA UPAZILA, BANGLADESH

Abstract

Waterlogging has become a major issue due to its severe impact on the south-western region of Bangladesh. This study aims to assess the trend of waterlogging and to find out the impact of waterlogging on land use, biodiversity and ecosystem services in the Tala located in the south-western region of Bangladesh. Satellite images of 1990, 2000, 2010 and 2021 were analyzed to portray the trend of waterlogging and questionnaire survey, FGDs and KIIs were used to discover the impacts of waterlogging on land use, biodiversity and ecosystem services in the study area. Satellite image analysis has shown that there is an ascending trend (increased by 154.5% between 1990 and 2000, by 135.9% between 2000 and 2010 and by 23.6% between 2010 and 2021) of waterlogging in the Tala upazila. Qualitative investigations revealed that waterlogging due to siltation in the associated rivers and unplanned human interventions, has been posing threats to the crop lands by turning them marshy. Biodiversity of aquaculture species, agricultural crops, aquatic wild animals, livestock, trees, birds etc. have been severely affected by waterlogging. Waterlogging is highly responsible for the low production of crop and aquaculture species, shortage of safe drinking water, habitat loss, sanitization, migration of people and so on.