Living with nature: blending nature-based solutions with integrated eco-tourism to create climate-resilient coastal shoreline

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Date
2024-12-20
Authors
Ferdous, Tasnim
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Abstract

The research and exploration through this practicum will lead to a climate-resilient design for stabilizing the shoreline of Kuakata, Bangladesh, and to developing eco-tourism, emphasizing the importance of sustainable and integrated approaches for long-term ecological and environmental stability. Climate change and increasing human populations along coastal areas drive the demand for sustainable and resilient long-term strategies for coastal disaster risk management and development. Effective approaches are essential for implementing nature-based solutions (NbS) to climate adaptation and mitigation strategies, particularly in regions most affected by environmental changes. Coastal protection strategies are shifting from engineered methods to more ecologically-aligned techniques that work with natural processes and enhance natural habitats. The 2023 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Report states that ecosystem-based adaptation can assist communities in adapting to impacts that are already severely affecting their lives and livelihoods, while also protecting biodiversity, improving health outcomes, enhancing food security, providing economic benefits, and increasing carbon sequestration. This practicum aims to apply various Nature-based Solutions (NbS) as vital tools to design climate-resilient shorelines to combat catastrophic storm damage caused by sea level rise. The proposed design for the coastline of Kuakata, a popular sea beach in coastal Bangladesh, seeks to harmonize the natural environment with the social and economic needs of the local community. Using nature-based solutions, the design emphasizes ecological resilience while addressing the social and economic vulnerabilities of people affected by climate change. By integrating environmental conservation with educational and interactive tourism experiences, the design fosters greater awareness of the vital role of natural elements in coastal protection, livelihood enhancement, and disaster preparedness. This sustainable approach aims to provide long-term benefits to the region by balancing human activities with preserving coastal ecosystems.

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Climate-resilience, Nature-based solutions, South Asia, Eco-tourism, Local economic growth
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