Abstract
Indigenous communities of the world consider the encompassing area, forests and hills, as their ancestors. Bangladesh, one of the most vulnerable countries due to climate change, and a homogenous country in terms of language, social customs, and anthropological origin has ethnic and cultural diversity with more than 50 Indigenous communities speaking more than 30 languages. Historically, indigenous people tend to explore solutions by their unique knowledge in line with the natural change to cope with climate change. They are highly dependent on nature for their livelihood sources. However, natural climate disasters, as well as some human situations like, land acquisition or land grabbing in the name of development and tourism, imperil the circumstances. Their unique food habits and food cultivation methods, directly and indirectly, play the most important role in their lives, livelihoods, and their surroundings. Planting multiple crops, digging water reservoirs, terracing, altering patterns of houses, and staircases are some examples of their adaptation strategies. The food sovereignty of Indigenous communities paces with their adaptation abilities towards the multifold impacts of climate change. Considering the perspectives, the impact of climate change on indigenous communities should be addressed more vigorously. Along with the acknowledgment, appropriate steps should be taken to envision their voices and indigenous knowledge. Inclusion, capacity, and trust-building should be the goals of the policy initiatives. The climate change impact on Indigenous people is not only a climatic issue but also a social, cultural, and humanitarian aspect from a broader point of view.
Presenters
Fatema Jahan SharnaAdditional District and Sessions Judge, Law and Justice Division, 3rd Additional District and Sessions Judge Court, Kishoreganj zila, Bangladesh
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Indigenous Communities, Food Sovereignty, Climate Change Adaptation, Bangladesh, Land Rights
