Examining the Impact of Climate Disasters on Sundarban Biosphere Reserve: Insights from Local Communities for Reaffirmation

This chapter examines the multifaceted impacts of climate-induced disasters on the Sundarban Biosphere Reserve (SBR), India, with particular emphasis on community-based perspectives. The study is based on primary data collected through household surveys and focus group discussions (FGDs) conducted in selected villages during December 2024. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the research integrates quantitative assessment with participatory insights, ensuring that local experiences and coping narratives are central to the analysis. The findings reveal that climate disasters exert widespread yet uneven impacts on households across the SBR. Cyclones, declining fish production, and livestock diseases emerged as the most severe and universally experienced hazards, underscoring acute vulnerabilities to both sudden shocks and chronic livelihood stresses. By contrast, hazards such as flood inundation, land degradation, and mangrove depletion showed polarised effects, with some households disproportionately affected while others remained relatively insulated. Salinity intrusion and agricultural decline further highlight the ecological–livelihood nexus, directly undermining food security and economic stability. Overall, the results indicate that disasters in the Sundarbans are compounding in nature, simultaneously eroding ecological systems and household resilience. These insights underscore the urgent need for integrated strategies that combine ecological restoration, livelihood diversification, and community-based disaster risk management to enhance socio-ecological resilience in one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable regions.