Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna River Delta

The GBM Delta in Bangladesh is home to a large and densely populated ecological region that relies on its natural resources for survival. However, the delta is facing severe environmental and socio-economic threats, such as climate change, river erosion, salinity, sea-level rise, and extreme weather events. These threats pose serious challenges to agriculture, infrastructure, and human settlements, increasing the risk of poverty and social injustice. Bangladesh has implemented various adaptation measures to deal with these challenges, such as embankments, flood protection, agricultural resilience, sustainable aquaculture, water management, disaster risk reduction, and preparedness. The Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100 is a long-term strategic plan for the delta that aims to achieve economic growth while ensuring water, ecology, environment, and land sustainability and resilience to natural disasters and climate change. To attain sustainable development in the delta, the country has adopted integrated land-use planning and community-based resource management approaches that enable local communities to adjust to the changing environment while maintaining their cultural values and traditional knowledge. Moreover, the country has diversified its livelihood options to reduce dependence on vulnerable sectors. The country has also engaged in international cooperation and research collaboration to learn from and share its experiences with other delta regions facing similar challenges. This study underscores the importance of continued efforts to address the specific issues of the GBM Delta and offers a framework for sustainable development in other delta regions around the world.