Indigenous People’s Perception about Climate Change, Forest Resource Management and Coping Strategy: A Comparative Study in Bangladesh

This study addresses how indigenous people living in a forest area perceive about climate change. This study also aims to know how indigenous people manage their forest resources and apply different coping strategies by using their indigenous knowledge. This study selected two indigenous communities living in Lawachora Punji (Khasia community) and in Dolubari/Dulahazra (Tripura community). This study included 18 households from 23 households living in Khasia Punji and 60 households from 75 households living in Dolubari/Dulahazra and followed purposive sampling particularly convenient sampling to collect information. This study used a survey questionnaire for descriptive information and also conducted in-depth interviews to explore more insights about climate change. Findings of this study show some differences between the two indigenous communities on climate change perception. |Findings also reveal some variations on indigenous techniques and knowledge for forest resource management and coping strategies. Tripura people consider that climate change is a treat for human kind and human activities are responsible for climate change. On the other side Khaisa people consider more about the impacts of climate change and how to combat the impacts of climate change. They empasize on government responsibility, raising public awareness and performing different roles by human to tackling climate change effects. This study suggests further comparative study between different indigenous communities living in forest areas, Bangladesh. Findings from this kind of study can provide more insights and understandings about climate change and its different dimensions including forest resource management and coping strategy. Guidlines and policy suggestions from the studies can contribute to sustainable environment in future in developing countries like Bangladesh.