Livelihood dynamics and hazard perception in a deltaic landscape: a hydrosocial assessment of riverbank erosion in the lower Meghna River, Bangladesh
Delta regions represent unique settings characterized by a combination of dynamic hydrological environments and livelihood opportunity. They are sites of intensive human activity and infrastructure development aimed at managing the environment and ameliorating hazards such as riverbank erosion. In t...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Water |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frwa.2025.1634249/full |
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| author | Jeff Popke Mizanur Rahman |
| author_facet | Jeff Popke Mizanur Rahman |
| author_sort | Jeff Popke |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Delta regions represent unique settings characterized by a combination of dynamic hydrological environments and livelihood opportunity. They are sites of intensive human activity and infrastructure development aimed at managing the environment and ameliorating hazards such as riverbank erosion. In this paper, we present a case study from the Meghna River delta highlighting livelihood dynamics in the context of riverbank erosion and the recent construction of a protective concrete revetment. To account for the hydrological, socioeconomic, and infrastructural dynamics of the delta environment, we characterize our setting as a hydrosocial territory, and we draw from interviews with local residents to document key dimensions of delta life within the Meghna estuary. Our findings show that the delta environment provides opportunity for local residents, but that riverbank erosion has led to significant displacement and is a source of anxiety for many. We also find that both the nature of the hazard and the limited extent of the new embankment have led to an uneven hydrosocial territory characterized by social and spatial inequality. Despite ongoing challenges, our study shows that riverside dwellers are active agents who manage to craft unique hybrid livelihoods from within the Meghna floodplains. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-cfce95a1f67e44299a05e82a2caee335 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2624-9375 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Water |
| spelling | doaj-art-cfce95a1f67e44299a05e82a2caee3352025-08-20T04:00:44ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Water2624-93752025-08-01710.3389/frwa.2025.16342491634249Livelihood dynamics and hazard perception in a deltaic landscape: a hydrosocial assessment of riverbank erosion in the lower Meghna River, BangladeshJeff Popke0Mizanur Rahman1Department of Earth, Environment and Planning, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, United StatesDepartment of Geosciences, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, United StatesDelta regions represent unique settings characterized by a combination of dynamic hydrological environments and livelihood opportunity. They are sites of intensive human activity and infrastructure development aimed at managing the environment and ameliorating hazards such as riverbank erosion. In this paper, we present a case study from the Meghna River delta highlighting livelihood dynamics in the context of riverbank erosion and the recent construction of a protective concrete revetment. To account for the hydrological, socioeconomic, and infrastructural dynamics of the delta environment, we characterize our setting as a hydrosocial territory, and we draw from interviews with local residents to document key dimensions of delta life within the Meghna estuary. Our findings show that the delta environment provides opportunity for local residents, but that riverbank erosion has led to significant displacement and is a source of anxiety for many. We also find that both the nature of the hazard and the limited extent of the new embankment have led to an uneven hydrosocial territory characterized by social and spatial inequality. Despite ongoing challenges, our study shows that riverside dwellers are active agents who manage to craft unique hybrid livelihoods from within the Meghna floodplains.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frwa.2025.1634249/fullhydrosocialriverbank erosionBangladeshlivelihoodsriver delta |
| spellingShingle | Jeff Popke Mizanur Rahman Livelihood dynamics and hazard perception in a deltaic landscape: a hydrosocial assessment of riverbank erosion in the lower Meghna River, Bangladesh Frontiers in Water hydrosocial riverbank erosion Bangladesh livelihoods river delta |
| title | Livelihood dynamics and hazard perception in a deltaic landscape: a hydrosocial assessment of riverbank erosion in the lower Meghna River, Bangladesh |
| title_full | Livelihood dynamics and hazard perception in a deltaic landscape: a hydrosocial assessment of riverbank erosion in the lower Meghna River, Bangladesh |
| title_fullStr | Livelihood dynamics and hazard perception in a deltaic landscape: a hydrosocial assessment of riverbank erosion in the lower Meghna River, Bangladesh |
| title_full_unstemmed | Livelihood dynamics and hazard perception in a deltaic landscape: a hydrosocial assessment of riverbank erosion in the lower Meghna River, Bangladesh |
| title_short | Livelihood dynamics and hazard perception in a deltaic landscape: a hydrosocial assessment of riverbank erosion in the lower Meghna River, Bangladesh |
| title_sort | livelihood dynamics and hazard perception in a deltaic landscape a hydrosocial assessment of riverbank erosion in the lower meghna river bangladesh |
| topic | hydrosocial riverbank erosion Bangladesh livelihoods river delta |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frwa.2025.1634249/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jeffpopke livelihooddynamicsandhazardperceptioninadeltaiclandscapeahydrosocialassessmentofriverbankerosioninthelowermeghnariverbangladesh AT mizanurrahman livelihooddynamicsandhazardperceptioninadeltaiclandscapeahydrosocialassessmentofriverbankerosioninthelowermeghnariverbangladesh |