Role of Homestead Forests in Adaptation to Climate Change: A Study on Households' Perceptions and Relevant Factors in Bandarban Hill District, Bangladesh.

Homestead forests play an important role in climate change adaptation and mitigation. This study investigated homestead forest owners' perceptions on climate change and associated impacts, as well as the role that homestead forests could play to enhance households' climate adaptation in Bandarban hill district of Bangladesh. Methods involved randomly surveying a total of 176 homestead households at three different hill altitudes: low, medium, and high. We also analyzed the meteorological data on local rainfall and temperature for the period of 1990 to 2019. Results showed that most (76-94%) of the homestead forest owners perceived an increasing erratic pattern of annual temperature and rainfall which was supported by the analysis of local meteorological data. Forest owners´ perceptions towards changes in tree phenology, increase in food insecurity, landslides, and pest infestation, and decrease in crop production, soil fertility, and seasonal streamflow were revealed as pieces of evidence of climate change impacts that varied significantly with hill altitudes and associated ecosystems. About 66% to 97% of the housheolds perceived that homestead forests could play a pivotal role in enhancing their capacity to adapt with the changing climate by supplying diverse products, services, and environmental benefits. Understanding and perceptions of the environmental benefits of homestead forests also significantly varied with the type of households´ construction, income, and literacy of the household members. Our results will help policymakers to ensure these small-scale homestead forests are conserved since they could also provide multiple environmental benefits e.g., carbon sequestration in addition to enhancing community climate adaptation.

Drinking water quality of Chattogram city in Bangladesh: An analytical and residents' perception study.

Residents of Chattogram city areas in Bangladesh use drinking water from three sources, namely CWASA (Chattogram Water supply and Sewerage Authority), groundwater (tube-well), and commercial jar. In this study, we examined the quality of drinking water from these sources following an analytical and residents' perception. Water samples (both untreated and treated) from above three sources were collected from six locations across Chattogram city, and pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), total suspended solids (TSS), bicarbonate, electrical conductivity (EC), salinity, and microbial load were studied following the state-of-art testing methods. A total of 149 respondents were interviewed to understand their perception on the physical properties of water. The pH value of water from all sources and locations and irrespective of treatments, varied from 6.54 to 7.02. TDS of tube-well water in two locations exceeded the standard limit (1000 mg/l). In most locations, TSS varied from 40 to 1888 mg/l (treated and untreated) against the standard value of 10 mg/l, while bicarbonate of CWASA and tube-well water in most locations was also higher than the permissible amount (500 mg/l). Except for jar water, EC of CWASA and tube-well water (treated and untreated) in most locations were higher than the standard value (500 µS) and a similar situation was observed for salinity content. The microbial load was found beyond the permissible limit (0 CFU/ml) for all sources and locations. These parameters of water quality have also been reflected in residents' perceptions of drinking water. Respondents reported an unpleasant odour (56%), the presence of suspended particles (17%), and so CWASA water is not good for drinking (76%). Authorities (CWASA) need to take action toward a safe drinking water supply for residents.

Carbon stocks of homestead forests have a mitigation potential to climate change in Bangladesh.

A total of 176 homestead forests at three altitudes in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh were randomly surveyed to estimate carbon (C) stocks and how stand structure affects the biomass C. All woody vegetations were measured, and litter and soil (0-30 cm depth) were sampled. The tree biomass C stock in the top two altitude forests was up to 37-48% higher than in low altitude, owing to significantly higher tree density and species diversity. An increase in species diversity index by one unit increased the biomass stock by 23 Mg C ha-1. The C stock of litterfall in low altitude forests was 22-28% higher than in the top two altitude due to the deposition of litters downslope and deliberate use of mulch for soil improvement and conservation, resulting in up to 5% higher total soil C. The topsoil C was 10-25% higher than the deeper soil, depending on the altitude. The forest stored 89 Mg C ha-1, indicating a potential for C sequestration in trees outside forest. This study would help policymakers to strengthen the recognition of small-scale forests for mitigation in REDD + (reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests, and enhancement of forest carbon stocks) and support owners through C credits from sustainably managed forests.