Socio-hydrological spaces in the Jamuna River floodplain in Bangladesh

Abstract

Abstract. In this paper, we propose a concept that captures the different socio-hydrological patterns that result from different societal choices on how to deal with rivers, floods and erosion: 'socio-hydrological spaces'. Socio-hydrology aims to understand the dynamics and co-evolution of coupled human-water systems. Our proposed concept will help to understand the detailed human-water interactions in a specific location. This paper uses a socio-hydrological approach to describe human-flood interactions in the Jamuna floodplain, Bangladesh. In this vast space (a braided river bed of 6-16 km) the 15 differences between land and water are temporary and shifting. To illustrate how the concept can be used, we first classified and identified socio-hydrological spaces and then validated through the analysis of primary data (household surveys and focus group discussions) and secondary data (statistics, maps etc.) that were collected in 2015 and 2016. The principal set of primary data consists of approx. 900 questionnaires on several themes: flooding, riverbank erosion, social processes of the study area. The concept of SHS draws attention to how historical patterns in the co-evolution of social behaviour, natural 20 processes and technological adoptions give rise to different landscapes, different style of living, and different ways of organizing livelihoods. However, we contend that this concept could be used in other places and for other socio-hydrological systems than floodplains.

Integrating Multiple Research Methods to Unravel the Complexity of Human‐Water Systems

“…These tradeoffs cannot be neglected in developing policy‐relevant science. For example, research work on human‐flood interactions should not only address how societies impact (and respond to) flood events, but also explore the socioeconomic benefits of living in floodplain areas that offer desirable conditions, for example, livelihood, cultural organization, trade, and transportation (Collins, 2009; Ferdous et al., 2018).…”

Coping and resilience in riverine Bangladesh

“…By contrast the concept of hydrosocial systems has its foundations in human geography with an emphasis more on hydrological cycles and analysing power relations (Linton 2008;Wesselink et al 2017). To empirically ground socio-hydrological propositions, Ferdous et al (2018) put forward the concept of socio-hydrological space as a geographical area in the landscape with distinct hydrological and social features that give rise to the emergence of distinct interactions and dynamics between society and water. In Bangladesh these spaces are distinguished by differing exposure to flood and riverbank erosion, delineating the active but inhabited floodplain from adjacent embanked lands (Ferdous et al, 2018).…”

“…To empirically ground socio-hydrological propositions, Ferdous et al (2018) put forward the concept of socio-hydrological space as a geographical area in the landscape with distinct hydrological and social features that give rise to the emergence of distinct interactions and dynamics between society and water. In Bangladesh these spaces are distinguished by differing exposure to flood and riverbank erosion, delineating the active but inhabited floodplain from adjacent embanked lands (Ferdous et al, 2018). This paper shows that a riverine landscape that includes different socio-hydrological spaces is itself nested within, and increasingly dependent on, wider socioeconomic institutions and systems, since people and water in rural and urban areas are becoming more and more connected.…”