Understanding Extreme Geohazards: The Science of the Disaster Risk Management Cycle European Science Foundation Conference November 28 to December 1, 2011, Sant Feliu de Guixols, Spain

Disaster Risk Reduction through Indigenous Coping Mechanisms: An Experimental Study on Southwestern Coastal Bangladesh

Shahriar Rahman
International Union for Conservation of Nature, Dhaka, Bangladesh, shahriar.rahman@iucn.org

Bangladesh is highly vulnerable due to rapid climate change and frequent occurrence of flood, cyclone, storm surge, drought and salinity intrusion. The coastal region of Bangladesh experiences different dimensions of environmental and social problems. A framework of indigenous coping mechanisms were represented in this paper considering community participation. Detailed questionnaire survey, focus group discussions and rapid rural appraisal were used to collect information about different coping mechanisms in rural areas of southwestern coastal districts of Bangladesh. The main focus of this study is to highlight current coping mechanisms have been using to fight against extreme natural events occurred in the southwestern coastal region of Bangladesh. The application of this study is to define how to incorporate the highlight coping mechanisms into national disaster management policy of Bangladesh.