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Assessing land use changes and livelihood outcomes of rural people in Chittagong Hill Tracts region, Bangladesh
  • Ronju Ahammad,
  • Natasha Stacey,
  • Terry Sunderland
Ronju Ahammad
Charles Darwin University

Corresponding Author:ronju.ahammad@cdu.edu.au

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Natasha Stacey
Charles Darwin University
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Terry Sunderland
The University of British Columbia Faculty of Forestry
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Abstract

This paper examines land use patterns of rural households and the association with food production and income across three different zones of various forest proximity across a landscape gradient (remote, intermediate and on-road) in the Chittagong Hill Tracts region of Bangladesh. We conducted in-depth semi-structured surveys of households (175-300) and farm owners (30) to collect information on people’s perceptions of land use change, present land use patterns and contributions to food production and income. Our research found that more than half of the surveyed households experienced a decline in the land available for food production over the past 30 years. The land use patterns revealed decreasing crop lands (mainly swidden farms) and an increase in areas of planted trees. However, household use of the reduced crop land has not affected food production in the on-road zone, whereas the diversity of food sources has declined. People living in more remote areas used larger areas of crop (swidden farms) and fallow lands, fruit orchard and accessed natural forest lands that provide a diverse reservoir of food sources. The current land uses contribute to variations in annual household income, with remote dwelling people earning less to those living in the intermediate and on-road zones. In summary, this transition of land uses over three decades and changes in income and food availability cannot be generalised across the region because of zone specific differences. We recommend a broader and context-reliant landscape management approach in consideration of the diversity of forest and tree benefits.
11 Jun 2020Submitted to Land Degradation & Development
13 Jun 2020Submission Checks Completed
13 Jun 2020Assigned to Editor
15 Jun 2020Reviewer(s) Assigned
01 Jul 2020Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
10 Jul 2020Editorial Decision: Revise Major
25 Jul 20201st Revision Received
27 Jul 2020Submission Checks Completed
27 Jul 2020Assigned to Editor
06 Aug 2020Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
14 Aug 2020Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
25 Sep 20202nd Revision Received
26 Sep 2020Submission Checks Completed
26 Sep 2020Assigned to Editor
05 Oct 2020Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
05 Oct 2020Editorial Decision: Accept
26 Oct 2020Published in Land Degradation & Development. 10.1002/ldr.3795