Impacts of Water logging on Biodiversity – Study on Southwestern Region of Bangladesh

Abstract

Water logging significantly affects existing biodiversity in Southwestern region, which has important implication for lives and livelihoods of the people. Collecting primary data through FGD, key informant interview and questionnaire survey from three water logged villages of two Unions of Dumuria and Keshabpur Upazila of Southwestern region, the study reaches to the conclusion that duration of water logging and peoples' response to that situation are two important factors that determine the effects of water logging in the study area. Impacts of water logging on biodiversity in the study area are visible in reduced number of birds, livestock, fisheries, as well as restrained growth of plants and vegetations. The study also finds that water logging affects peoples' well being by narrowing down the livelihood options of the people. Water logging squeezes the scope for maintaining household economy by reducing the number of livestock, fisheries, and restraining the growth of vegetation, fruit trees and timber trees.