The Chattogram Hill Tracts (CHT) are Bangladesh's only mountainous region, and it is one of the most attractive and biologically diverse. For decades, forests, streams, and ridgelines have provided sustenance to ethnic minorities and other resource-dependent people. This fragile mountain system is currently under stress, putting fragmented and sector-based development to the test.
Against this backdrop, Bangladesh has gradually improved CHT livelihoods and vulnerabilities. Investments in services, infrastructure, and economic opportunities have paid off. However, increasing climate change, environmental degradation, and demographic pressures require coordinated, long-term, landscape-based solutions. Successful hill development requires integrated approaches that consider land, water, biodiversity, and livelihoods.
At the same time, local communities see rapid CHT transformation. Many regions currently use intensive farming methods that are unsuited for high terrain. Over the last century, population growth, new settlements, and agricultural development have displaced native species and altered ecosystems. These changes jeopardize natural resource-based livelihoods.
Among the most pressing impacts, growing seasonal water stress is a big concern. Hill communities rely on natural springs for drinking water. Rising temperatures, dry seasons, deforestation, and land-use change have all contributed to the drying up of many springs. Water scarcity disproportionately impacts women and children, who must collect water from further away sources.
In response, nature must provide remedies. Nature-based solutions (NbS) are one of the best approaches to reverse environmental deterioration and reduce climate threats. These approaches solve environmental and economic problems in sustainable, resilient, and cost-effective ways by engaging with ecosystems.
For example, a spring is part of a springshed, the terrain that catches, holds, and releases water. Spring revival goes beyond tree planting and requires a methodical approach. It starts with finding recharge spots on higher land where precipitation infiltrates soil and feeds springs downhill. Contour trenches and multipurpose retention ponds delay runoff, minimize erosion, replenish groundwater, and provide water during dry seasons.
In this process, prioritizing native species improves springshed restoration. Local soils and rains suit native plants. Deep root systems stabilize slopes, while leaf litter moistens and fertilises soil. Many species boost biodiversity, livelihoods, and tourism.
One such species, Shimul (Bombax ceiba), is an excellent example. Pollinators and visitors flock to the crimson blossoms that bloom on homesteads, roadsides, and degraded slopes. The tree yields silk-cotton, medicinal value, lumber, and aesthetics, demonstrating how ecological restoration can provide multiple advantages. Tourism, such as Shimul Bagan in Taherpur, Sunamganj, demonstrates how conservation may be beneficial.
Beyond ecological gains, nature-based interventions boost local economies. Local youth provide birdwatching, walking, and botanical trips in restored areas. Regenerative agriculture and agroforestry boost food security and lessen forest strain. Stewardship reinforces itself when communities see results.
Building on these approaches, the USD 10 million GRACE LoCAL Plus and Integrated Climate Adaptation Solutions for the Hindu Kush Himalaya Region (HI-CAS) Project is being prepared for implementation by ICIMOD in partnership with the Government of Bangladesh and UNCDF. The programme will promote climate adaptation packages aligned with the National Adaptation Plan for the CHT, including participatory springshed management, soil and water conservation, agroforestry, and regenerative farming practices. It will also seek to strengthen and support sub-national institutions, including upazilas, in accessing and utilising climate finance.
Ultimately, the Chattogram Hill Tracts must be restored to maintain livelihoods, reduce inequality, and improve climate resilience. Community-based planning, inclusive governance, and local action are needed. Engineering solutions, infrastructure, and technical solutions are crucial, but landscape methods that integrate sound engineering with ecological processes and community knowledge and engage with nature will build resilience.