Misreading the Bengal Delta

Misreading the Bengal Delta
Author: Camelia Dewan
Publisher: University of Washington Press
Total Pages: 239
Release: 2021-11-01
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 0295749628

An unexpected story of climate change initiatives that threaten a complex waterscape Perilously close to sea level and vulnerable to floods, erosion, and cyclones, Bangladesh is one of the top recipients of development aid earmarked for climate change adaptation. Yet, to what extent do adaptation projects address local needs and concerns? Combining environmental history and ethnographic fieldwork with development professionals, rural farmers, and landless women, Misreading the Bengal Delta critiques development narratives of Bangladesh as a “climate change victim.” It examines how development actors repackage colonial-era modernizing projects, which have caused severe environmental effects, as climate-adaptation solutions. Seawalls meant to mitigate against cyclones and rising sea levels instead silt up waterways and induce drainage-related flooding. Other adaptation projects, from saline aquaculture to high-yield agriculture, threaten soil fertility, biodiversity, and livelihoods. Bangladesh’s environmental crisis goes beyond climate change, extending to coastal vulnerabilities that are entwined with underemployment, debt, and the lack of universal healthcare. This timely book analyzes how development actors create flawed causal narratives linking their interventions in the environment and society of the Global South to climate change. Ultimately, such misreadings risk exacerbating climatic threats and structural inequalities.

Delta Sustainability

Delta Sustainability
Author: Weiguo Zhang
Publisher: Springer Nature
Total Pages: 354
Release:
Genre:
ISBN: 9819772591

Rivers and Sustainable Development

Rivers and Sustainable Development
Author: S. Nazrul Islam
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Total Pages: 489
Release: 2020
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 0190079029

"This book presents a new conceptualization of river related policy issues, using concepts such as the Commercial and Cordon approaches to rivers and their opposite, the Ecological and Open approaches. It draws upon river related experience from across the world to substantiate and illustrate these concepts. This new conceptualization will help to connect the river policy related discussion of the experts and specialists with that of river activists and the public. This shared discussion will allow better river policy formulation. The book argues for replacing the currently dominant Commercial and Cordon approaches to rivers by the Ecological and Open approaches rivers. It shows how such a policy change can be more conducive to achieving sustainable development. Rivers are a vital component of the ecology. The earth's hydrological cycle depends on them. As the world population grows and the demand for freshwater increases, rivers are coming under more stress. Many rivers already get completely exhausted before reaching the seas. Climate change is destabilizing the rivers further. River related conflicts are spreading. The necessity for adoption of right river policies is more urgent than ever. Yet the current disconnection between the river related discussions by experts and specialists, on the one hand, and activists and policymakers, on the other, makes correct river policy formulation difficult. By helping to move the river policy discussion from the confines of experts to the public arena this book will allow formulation of more pro-people and pro-environment river policies. "--

Floods in the Ganga–Brahmaputra–Meghna Delta

Floods in the Ganga–Brahmaputra–Meghna Delta
Author: Aznarul Islam
Publisher: Springer Nature
Total Pages: 570
Release: 2023-02-14
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 3031210867

This volume covers the floods of the major rivers of the Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna (GBM) Delta, and storm surge related coastal floods in these regions. The book is dedicated to addressing floods from an integrated physical-social perspective to provide students and researchers with a holistic understanding of floods in terms of both human and geomorphological aspects. The systematic coverage of all the major rivers and coastal areas in the GBM delta and surrounding regions will foster a clear comprehension of this dense reservoir of population, where thousands of people are impacted every year due to flood hazards and agricultural destabilization. This comprehensive treatment of flood issues in the region covers flash floods, fluvial floods, fluvio-tidal floods, and coastal floods, and outlines flood management strategies to maintain ecological integrity and environmental stability, and prevent harmful impacts of future floods. The book is intended for students and researchers in earth and environmental sciences, especially geomorphology, hydrology, geography, geology, natural resources management, and regional planning.

Anthropogeomorphology of Bhagirathi-Hooghly River System in India

Anthropogeomorphology of Bhagirathi-Hooghly River System in India
Author: Balai Chandra Das
Publisher: CRC Press
Total Pages: 585
Release: 2020-10-27
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 1000194574

The Bhagirathi-Hooghly Basin in India is one of the most densely populated regions in the world and is undergoing rapid transformation of its natural landscape induced by human interventions, such as mushrooming of dams and barrages, deforestation, and urbanization. Human activities and interventions on basin landforms and the processes that shape those landforms have accelerated at an alarming rate. This book uses spatio-temporal analysis to understand the major anthropogenic signatures on land use and land cover changes and the impact these activities have on the landforms and processes of the Bhagirathi-Hooghly River and its sub-basins. It answers the what, where, why, and how of the anthropogenic signatures involved. Recent case studies on the impact of anthropogenic signatures on fluvial forms and processes make this book a useful resource for students and researchers in the earth sciences, local governments, urban planners, and all concerned with rural developments. Features: Explores for the first time the new concept of anthropogeomorphology for the river basin—an emerging field Analyses the impact of anthropogenic activities, especially the construction of dams and reservoirs, and urbanization on major fluvial landscapes using advanced geospatial modelling techniques Investigates human interference in river systems, their effects on the dynamics of the river, and the livelihoods of the people residing along the river Addresses issues related to geology, geomorphology, geography, planning, land use, and land management areas Fills the need for data-driven governance and policy decisions for the future of urban-industrial growth in India.

Living on the Edge

Living on the Edge
Author: Mohammad Zaman
Publisher: Springer Nature
Total Pages: 458
Release: 2021-07-27
Genre: Science
ISBN: 3030735923

In Bangladesh, the chars within the river channels are an important part of its landscape. However, these land masses continue to remain isolated, deprived of services, and pockets of poverty in the country. The char dwellers are vulnerable to natural hazards like flood and erosion. In addition to these hazards, the coastal chars are faced with the imminent problem of widespread inundation due to sea level rise resulting from climate change. Within this context, the book Living on the Edge: Char Dwellers in Bangladesh has brought together valuable scholarship on the diverse issues relating to the chars and the communities living in there. This comprehensive collection, with contribution of experts on the subject from across the globe, provides an understanding of the problems faced by the char dwellers and also comes up with policy prescriptions for ensuring overall welfare of char communities in the country.

Geotechnics for Sustainable Infrastructure Development

Geotechnics for Sustainable Infrastructure Development
Author: Phung Duc Long
Publisher: Springer Nature
Total Pages: 1417
Release: 2019-11-28
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9811521840

This book presents 09 keynote and invited lectures and 177 technical papers from the 4th International Conference on Geotechnics for Sustainable Infrastructure Development, held on 28-29 Nov 2019 in Hanoi, Vietnam. The papers come from 35 countries of the five different continents, and are grouped in six conference themes: 1) Deep Foundations; 2) Tunnelling and Underground Spaces; 3) Ground Improvement; 4) Landslide and Erosion; 5) Geotechnical Modelling and Monitoring; and 6) Coastal Foundation Engineering. The keynote lectures are devoted by Prof. Harry Poulos (Australia), Prof. Adam Bezuijen (Belgium), Prof. Delwyn Fredlund (Canada), Prof. Lidija Zdravkovic (UK), Prof. Masaki Kitazume (Japan), and Prof. Mark Randolph (Australia). Four invited lectures are given by Prof. Charles Ng, ISSMGE President, Prof.Eun Chul Shin, ISSMGE Vice-President for Asia, Prof. Norikazu Shimizu (Japan), and Dr.Kenji Mori (Japan).

The Vulnerability of Cities

The Vulnerability of Cities
Author: Mark Pelling
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 221
Release: 2012-06-25
Genre: Architecture
ISBN: 1136551468

When disaster strikes in cities the effects can be catastrophic compared to other environments. But what factors actually determine the vulnerability or resilience of cities? The Vulnerability of Cities fills a vital gap in disaster studies by examining the too-often overlooked impact of disasters on cities, the conditions leading to high losses from urban disasters and why some households and communities withstand disaster more effectively than others. Mark Pelling takes a fresh look at the literature on disasters and urbanization in light of recent catastrophes. He presents three detailed studies of cities in the global South, drawn from countries with contrasting political and developmental contexts: Bridgetown, Barbados - a liberal democracy; Georgetown, Guyana - a post socialist-state; and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic - an authoritarian state in democratic transition. This book demonstrates that strengthening local capacity - through appropriate housing, disaster-preparedness, infrastructure and livelihoods - is crucial to improving civic resilience to disasters. Equally important are strong partnerships between local community-based organizations, external non-governmental and governmental organizations, public and private sectors and between city and national government. The author highlights and discusses these best practices for handling urban disasters. With rapid urbanization across the globe, this book is a must-read for professionals, policy-makers, students and researchers in disaster management, urban development and planning, transport planning, architecture, social studies and earth sciences.