Cyclone Induced Land Transformation in the Bagerhat Coast of Bangladesh

Abstract

Land transformation is the change in land use and land cover, and the change may involve either a shift to a different use or an intensification of an existing one. Cyclone is one of the agents of land transformation. The aim of the study was to document the impacts of cyclone Sidr on land transformation of Sarankhola Upazila of Bagerhat District, Bangladesh. The research was encompassed by mainly secondary data and information collected from published sources and documents from the Upazila government offices as well as disaster management oriented public offices in Bangladesh. In addition, primary data were collected through field observation and key informant interviews with different stakeholders of the study area. This study revealed that cyclone Sidr acted as one of the agents of transforming land either from one use to another or no use in the study area. It was found that about 43 ha agricultural land was converted into culture and small scale commercial carp fish land, approximately 72 percent of agricultural land was temporary uncovered by storm water, some of the recovery main houses built on agriculture land. In addition, crop type and land cover changed by the farmers destroying about 60 percent homestead and social forest due to cyclonic wind and storm surges created by cyclone Sidr. This study suggested for taking afforestation project in order to restore the forest zone in the study area. Moreover, concerned authority of the government should be strengthened for monitoring and controlling any sorts of construction activities on the agriculture land.