Traditional Food Production and Management in the Coastal Zone of Bangladesh
The coastline of Bangladesh spreads over 711 kilometers containing a wide network of river systems that drain the Ganges-BrahmaputraMeghna river system's massive flow. The coastline is separated into a\npacific-type deltaic eastern zone, a central deltaic zone, and an Atlantictype deltaic western zone (M. R. Islam 2004). The Encyclopedia of Flora and Fauna of Bangladesh (Volumes 3 and 4), released in 2008, listed 156 species in the coastal zone of Bangladesh, including brown algae, red algae, green algae and five different seagrass species (Kamal and Short 2009). In terms of faunal resources, the maritime environment\nof Bangladesh has 442 fish species and 36 shrimp species (Ben Belton, et al. 2011). \n\nAround fifty million people from various ethnic groups reside in the coastline zone, encompassing thirty-two percent of the country's total population. Although the Banglaees are the most populous ethnic group, ten other ethnic communities live along the coastal zone of the country: Chakma, Khyang, Marma, Munda, Murang, Rakhine, Tanchangya, Tripura, Mahato, and Pundra Khatrio (Kamal, et al. 2001). The distinctive water-land-forest ecosystem of this area has significantly shaped food production and consumption patterns among these communities throughout history. \n\nThe coastal inhabitants are exposed to both climatic, natural disasters and manmade hazards. This paper aims to discuss the food production system in the coastal area of Bangladesh as well as the impact of alarming climate change on the general food security of the region