Due to the impacts of climate change, the coastal upazila of Assasuni in Satkhira is under increasing environmental stress. Expanding salinity, river erosion, cyclones, uncontrolled shrimp farming, and the scarcity of potable water have all pushed the region’s land and biodiversity to the brink of crisis.
Against this backdrop, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) has recently identified land degradation control as one of the key strategies in tackling climate change.Vast areas of Assasuni’s Pratapnagar, Anulia, Kadakati, Shyamnagar, and Boroadal unions have been transformed into shrimp farms. The influx of saline water and profit-driven shrimp farming practices have led to the destruction of freshwater fish habitats and paddy fields.
Where once three crops were harvested annually, now much of the land remains barren for most of the year.Local farmer Abul Kashem (65) says, “The land that once produced rice is now covered with salt. If I irrigate the fields, the crops rot. I have land, but it’s of no use.”As vegetation has diminished, many native species of birds, frogs, crabs, and insects have disappeared.
Wetlands that once flourished with water lilies, lotus, native fish, and climbing perch have significantly declined. In many areas, canals and water bodies have dried up or been filled in for shrimp farming.Despite being close to the Sundarbans, Assasuni is turning into a high-risk zone for biodiversity loss. According to the UNCCD, the key to future resilience lies in preserving land, restoring degraded areas, and ensuring sustainable use.Experts suggest that land recovery in Assasuni is possible by limiting the expansion of shrimp farms, re-excavating canals and embankments, promoting salt-tolerant rice and vegetable varieties, and encouraging social afforestation.
Though some government initiatives exist, their implementation has been plagued by challenges. In many cases, plans have been made without local awareness or participation, rendering them unsustainable.Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is impossible without effective local land management. Assasuni, as both a densely populated and ecologically rich area near the Sundarbans, urgently requires integrated action. Without it, cultivable land, drinking water, and the natural environment will all face severe future threats.
