CLIMATE ADAPTATION
Bangladesh is a huge delta crossed by more than 300 rivers. It is one of the most exposed and vulnerable countries in the world to natural disaster such as floods, tropical storms or cyclones.
Despite early warning and evacuation systems, climate change increases the frequency and intensity of the disasters, causing displacement, losses and poverty trap for millions.
In Bangladesh, it is not a question of whether a disaster is going to happen, but rather when it will happen and with which intensity. The populations have no other choice but to adapt. Friendship works with the communities on preparedness, response and strengthening resilience.
MANGROVE AFFORESTATION
All specialists agree that mangrove forests are a prime ecosystem to preserve and restore in the face of the climate crisis.
APDS’s mangrove afforestation program combines the regenerative effects of mangroves with their ability to protect landscapes from tidal surges and erosion.
Mangrove trees planted in river mudflats improve biodiversity and protect the embankments that keep saline water out of agricultural soils. The plantations will also bring economic benefits to local communities in the form of shrimps, crabs, bees, fruit, fish, twigs, and thatch once the forests are mature.
In addition, as a co-benefit of this nature-based adaptation solution, mangrove trees capture five times as much carbon dioxide from the air as other types of forest.
PLINTH RAISING
Plinths are clusters of villages raised above flood levels to provide shelter to house displaced communities and their possessions, including livestock, during flooding.
APDS’s plinths are equipped with safe drinking water, washrooms, and infrastructure to accommodate the immediate needs of shelter seekers.
CLIMATE COMPATIBLE INFRASTRUCTURE
APDS has worked with the government and other NGOs to create a building standard that conforms to climatic realities across the country.
All of our buildings interact with their environment to maximize utility and sustainability.
For example, our schools are easily dismantlable if the island breaks during floods but are built to endure storms. The APDS Centre, built to withstand flooding, minimize its carbon footprint, and complement the local climate, is a winner of the prestigious Aga Khan Award for Architecture. Similarly, the APDS Hospital Shyamnagar was awarded the best new building in the world for 2021 by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) for its environmentally conscious architecture that is also conducive to the patients physical and mental healing.
GREEN ENERGY
APDS provides families with access to low-cost solar-powered lighting and communities with solar-powered streetlights.
The river islands of the Brahmaputra where APDS operates are completely off the power grid, due to remoteness and unstable landscape caused by erosion.
The solar home lighting systems allow rural families to extend their workday into the evening hours, and students to study in the evening.
They are also healthier and less of a fire hazard than the old kerosene lamps.
The easily dismantlable photovoltaic systems also power our schools and disaster-time mobile charging facilities. Three new solar microgrids—including the first of its kind in the char areas—will supply electricity to 560 families.
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS COMMITTEES
APDS establishes disaster management committees in coastal and char villages and works with them to develop strategies and prepare risk-reduction action plans for implementation during natural disasters to keep the community safe and mitigate their impact.
APDS Disaster Management Committees are fora in which communities can share their experiences, assess potential risks, identify needs, and develop practical solutions using local knowledge and APDS’s resources.
AGRICULTURE TECHNIQUES, TRAINING & DEMONSTRATIONS
Floods and tidal surges can ruin a farmer’s investments for a planting season, leaving them with debts that are difficult to pay off.
Repeated disasters like this can bring on a cycle of debt and poverty.
APDS trains farmers in adaptive agriculture techniques, such as saline-resistant crops and floating seed beds, and introduces alternative products such as shrimp or crabs, which are better suited to changing environments.
INTER-SCHOOL CONNECTIVITY FOR CLIMATE AWARENESS
The Inter-School Connectivity Project (ISCP) is a year-long exchange program between APDS school students in remote river island areas and their counterparts in France, Luxembourg, Switzerland, and Cambodia.
The students spoke to each other in a series of Zoom calls, in a very practical, experiential approach to climate change education, sharing knowledge and experience on climate, agriculture, and day-to-day life.
The program encouraged students to discuss and share solutions to cope with climate change — logistical or behavioral adaptations, changes in practices and lifestyles, etc.