Livelihood Resilience

This critical literature review reframes Bajo coastal communities as human-ecological actors in climate adaptation, mangrove stewardship, and emerging blue carbon livelihood governance. Methods: The article synthesizes the provided Scopus-derived literature corpus and the accompanying manuscript, using a thematic critical review rather than a systematic protocol. Evidence was organized around five clusters: Bajo/Sama-Bajau marginality and adaptation, coastal social-ecological systems, small-scale fisheries resilience, mangrove stewardship, and blue carbon governance. Results: The review shows that Bajo resilience is not merely household coping but a relational capability shaped by marine knowledge, mobility, livelihood portfolios, institutional recognition, and access to mangrove benefits. Recent blue carbon literature strengthens the need to move beyond carbon accounting toward community safeguards, benefit sharing, tenure clarity, and plural valuation. Mangrove stewardship emerges as the bridge between ecological restoration, climate adaptation, and livelihood security. Conclusion: For Bajo communities, blue carbon can support resilience only when it is embedded in rights-based human ecology, participatory governance, and locally meaningful livelihood strategies. The article proposes an integrated framework for future empirical research and policy design.

Effective wetland governance is a key instrument for achieving sustainable natural resource management and improving the livelihoods of local communities. This study aimed to identify and validate the dimensions and criteria of effective governance in the Jazmurian wetland using an exploratory mixed-methods (qualitative-quantitative) design. In the qualitative phase, governance dimensions and criteria were derived from semi-structured, in-depth interviews with key informants and a systematic review of scientific sources, and were analyzed using thematic analysis. This process identified 121 initial themes, 27 criteria, and five main governance dimensions. In the quantitative phase, the extracted structure was tested and validated through validity and reliability assessments with the participation of local farmers and pastoralists. Findings showed that technical-scientific, economic-livelihood, participatory-social, sustainability and resilience, and institutionalpolitical dimensions play the most influential roles in achieving effective governance of the Jazmurian wetland toward reducing regional deprivation. Specifically, the technical-scientific dimension requires strengthened environmental monitoring, use of scientific data, and local training; the economic-livelihood dimension highlights livelihood diversification, green employment, and financial support; and the participatory-social dimension stresses enhanced community participation, social trust, and inter-institutional collaboration. Moreover, the sustainability and resilience dimension focuses on water management, vegetation restoration, and vulnerability reduction, while the institutional-political dimension calls for intersectoral coordination, decision-making transparency, institutional accountability, and policy stability. Given gaps in wetland governance frameworks, the validated dimensions and criteria proposed here can support informed decisionmaking, effective policy development, and integrated planning for sustainable management of the Jazmurian wetland, with potential applicability to other dry and disadvantaged wetlands.

This paper will explore the vulnerable communities of tiger widows' place-based adaptation to climate change. Tiger widows (locally called bagh bidhwa) are considered one of the most vulnerable and a small marginalised communities in Bangladesh's coastal settlements (Chowdhury et al., 2016), whose husbands were killed by tigers while fishing in the Sundarbans 1 (enlisted as UNESCO World Heritage site) regions. These coastal women's life and livelihoods are mostly depending on the place-based natural resources (e.g. fishing, crab collection), collecting resources from the mangrove forest of Sundarbans (Khalil & Jacobs, 2021; Uddin et al., 2013). Tiger-human conflict in the Sundarbans is a frequent occurrence and a significant global issue that endangers people's live, destroys property and puts the rest of 1 Sundarbans is the largest delta in the world, created by the 3 rivers Ganges, Meghna, and Brahmaputra along the Bay of Bengal spread to the SouthEast Asia of Bangladesh and India (Basu & Mondal, 2023). Sundarbans occupy a large landmass, covered an area of about 6000 sq. km in Bangladesh part and recognised as one of the largest mangrove forests spread in Bangladesh (Gopal & Chauhan, 2006). Landmass (4.1%) of the country land supporting ecosystems and served over 1000 species of plant, fish, including the only habitat of the Royal Bengal Tigers (Gopal & Chauhan, 2006; Uddin et al., 2013). Approximately 200 tigers live in the Sundarbans, Bangladesh (Khan, 2012). More than three million coastal livelihoods directly or indirectly are depending on the ecosystem-based livelihoods in the Sundarbans (Uddin et al., 2013).

Understanding how livelihood practices transform across generations in response to environmental change represents a critical yet underexplored problem. Environmental changes are increasingly disrupting rural livelihoods in coastal South Asia. Existing studies have rarely captured either the dynamic or the intergenerational nature of livelihoods. Moving beyond static analyses, this study aimed to capture the intergenerational dynamics of livelihood trajectories in response to environmental change by introducing the analytical framework of Intergenerational Livelihood Pathways. The framework examined how environmental changes have shaped the availability of and access to livelihood capitals over time and how different adaptation strategies have evolved across generations. The framework was applied in rural coastal communities in Bangladesh and West Bengal, India, where livelihoods have long been deeply rooted in natural resources and exposed to multiple environmental hazards. Drawing on life-history interviews in ten villages, this study traced the evolution of livelihood practices across three generations. The findings indicated a gradual shift from solely nature-based livelihoods to more mixed and diversified practices, mainly due to the degradation of natural capital. The study offered critical insights into how rural households adapt their livelihoods across generations in response to environmental changes. It provided actionable directions for policies that strengthen natural capital, promote sustainable resource use, and support locally driven adaptation planning. By introducing the Intergenerational Livelihood Pathways framework, the study contributed an original analytical lens for examining the intergenerational dimensions of adaptation and livelihood resilience in climate-vulnerable communities.

Purpose of the Study: This study examined how sustainable resource use challenges influence livelihoods among artisanal fishers in Siaya County, Lake Victoria, with particular attention to the mediating role of household resilience. Problem Statement: Despite ongoing fisheries management interventions, artisanal fishers continue to experience declining stocks, weak governance, and livelihood insecurity. Limited site-specific evidence and inadequate integration of ecological, institutional, and socioeconomic dimensions constrain effective policy responses. M ethodology: Guided by the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework and Tragedy of the Commons Theory, the study adopted a mixed-methods design. Quantitative data were collected from 396 fishers, traders, and Beach M anagement Unit officials using structured questionnaires, complemented by qualitative key informant interviews. Data were analysed in SPSS using descriptive statistics, multiple regression, and mediation analysis to estimate both direct effects of ecological and governance pressures on livelihoods and indirect effects transmitted through household resilience. Results: Findings revealed that overfishing and destructive gears, environmental degradation and climate change, and weak governance exerted significant negative effects on household livelihood outcomes. M ediation analysis showed that fishers ' resilience partially mediated these relationships, indicating that adaptive strategies buffered, but did not fully offset the ecological and institutional stressors. Qualitative evidence highlighted enforcement gaps, limited livelihood alternatives, and uneven institutional support at landing sites. Conclusion and Policy Recommendations: The study concludes that sustainable livelihoods in small-scale fisheries require integrated interventions addressing ecological sustainability, governance effectiveness, and household adaptive capacity. Policy actions should strengthen fisheries enforcement, promote participatory co-management, and expand livelihood diversification and resilience-building programmes to enhance long-term sustainability.

Study region
Iran, as a representative arid region grappling with a severe water crisis in its agricultural sector.
Study focus
This study aimed to conduct a pathology of Sustainable Water Governance (SWG) in the agricultural sector of Iran by systematically analyzing structural, contextual, and behavioral challenges. The research employed a deductive qualitative content analysis (QCA) approach, utilizing the DPSIR (Driving forces, Pressures, State, Impacts, Response) assessment model integrated with a three-pronged pathology model (structure, context, behavior). Data were gathered from 109 peer-reviewed articles (69 international, 40 Iranian) and 11 in-depth interviews with Iranian water governance experts.
New hydrological insights for the region
Analysis of the literature and interviews yielded 284 indicators. Findings revealed the most significant driving forces to be weak policymaking, institutional fragmentation, and neglect of indigenous knowledge. Key pressures included population growth and inappropriate cropping patterns, which have resulted in declining groundwater resources, desiccation of rivers, and inefficient management structures (state). The crisis impacts have intensified social tensions, food insecurity, and migration. Effective response strategies for the region emphasize stakeholder participation, cropping pattern reform, policy transparency, and integrated water resources management (IWRM). By proposing a three-dimensional pathology (diagnostic) framework, this study provides regional policymakers with a strategic tool to enhance the agricultural sector's resilience in confronting the water crisis, with potential applicability to other arid regions facing similar governance challenges.

There is an urgent need to address interlinked sustainability issues in a world challenged by inequality, finite resources and unprecedented changes across Earth’s systems. As Future Earth Fellows, based on our collective expertise in a diverse range of sustainability issues, here we identify a specific need to recognise and respond appropriately to the nexus between human health and wellbeing, urbanisation, and ecosystem services (the ‘WUE nexus’). This nexus is a priority area for research, policy and practice. In particular, it provides a useful pathway to meet the challenges of successful implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In this brief, we present the following policy recommendations: 1. By emphasising urban-rural linkages, foster an integrated approach to ensure food security, food safety, and health promotion; 2. Secure resilient livelihoods for all, in particular for vulnerable groups; and 3. Integrate co-production of knowledge in science for decisi...

The semi-arid region of Ghana is one of the major climate change vulnerability hotspots, characterized by extreme climate change events such as floods, droughts, and erratic rainfall. High vulnerabilities coupled with low adaptive capacities lead to catastrophic impacts on agriculture and food systems among subsistence farmers in semi-arid regions. This paper used a cross-sectional survey (n = 1100) to explore the association between the experience of four severe climatic stressors (i.e., drought, flood, erratic rain, storm) and household food insecurity among smallholder farmers in semi-arid Ghana. The results showed that an increase in the number of climatic stressors experienced by households was associated with a 2.6 times likelihood of being severely food insecure. Also, the experience of each of the severe climatic stressors (drought, flood, storm and rainfall) was associated with household food insecurity. The study highlights that the localized occurrence and experience of climatic stressors, along with their impacts on food security, make one-size-fits-all adaptation strategies inadequate for protecting smallholder households from the adverse effects of climate stressors on agriculture and food systems in semi-arid Ghana and similar contexts in sub-Saharan Africa. To address this, it is essential to actively engage smallholder households and communities in identifying their varying experiences of climatic stressors and implement targeted strategies tailored to address specific household vulnerabilities.

Pasar terapung memiliki keunikan tersendiri dibandingkan dengan pasar lainnya, karena aktivitas jual-beli berlangsung di atas sungai menggunakan perahu. Perbedaan ukuran perahu laki-laki dan perempuan pedagang pasar terapung dapat menunjukkan perbedaan status sosial-ekonomi. Demi meningkatkan keadaan ekonomi, anggota rumah tangga pedagang pasar terapung memanfaatkan modal nafkah yang dimiliki untuk memenuhi kebutuhan hidup. Berbagai sumber nafkah juga dimanfaatkan, baik dari sektor perdagangan maupun non-perdagangan. Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian kuantitatif yang didukung dengan data kualitatif. Teknik pengumpulan data yang digunakan melalui kuesioner untuk data kuantitatif dan wawancara mendalam untuk data kualitatif. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk menganalisis perbandingan struktur nafkah, mekanisme adaptasi nafkah, dan faktor-faktor yang mendukung tercapainya kelentingan nafkah rumah tangga pedagang pasar terapung laki-laki dan perempuan. Hasil penelitian ini menun...

The inhabitants of Satkhira are historically known for their survival against natural calamities. The young CLR researchers visited these localities and conducted interviews with the affected people to get a wholesome sense of the severity of the situation. They approached the situation from a socio-legal perspective while keeping in mind how the geographical condition of that area makes it susceptible to saline water intrusion. Over the years, such intrusion has not only affected the local environment but also adversely impacted the socio-economic condition and basic human rights of the residents. The researchers tried to analyze the situation through dissecting issues like economic exploitation, resource monopolization, employment crisis, human rights violations and so forth. It is expected that by reading this book the readers would get an explicit idea about the effect of salinity caused by human intervention on the human rights of the inhabitants. A question that follows is: does economic emancipation of a few justify pauperization of the majority?

The Sundarbans have been and continue to be one of the most 'disaster-prone' areas in India. The inhabitants of this region have been facing the loss of lives and livelihoods due to the increased frequency and intensity of hydro-meteorological disasters, particularly cyclones and floods. Based on data collected from the field at the household level, the study explores the livelihood insecurity due to climate related disasters and analyses it at spatial and socioeconomic scales. Around 415 households have been surveyed and information was collected from these households to arrive at meaningful conclusions. Climate related livelihood insecurity index (CLII) has been prepared with the help of 29 sensitive indicators. This index is analysed under five livelihood capitals viz. natural, physical, social, human and financial. The livelihood insecurity has been compared on the basis of geographical location, social and economic status of the households. The geographical location focused on spatial context while social (caste and gender) and economic status examined the social context.

Iran’s Nomadic communities are now facing major challenges regarding their livelihoods. The forced transition of their settled lifestyle due to these challenges can have undesirable outcomes for their quality of life. The nomadic communities as a part of Iran’s ethnic heritage has the capacity to employ tourism for diversifying its economy and the country’s tourism product diversity. Therefore, the importance of identifying those factors that contribute to the community’s capability to build their livelihood resilience is justified. This paper aims at exploring the factors that can improve nomadic communities resilient. Furthermore, this study attempts to present a livelihood resilience framework with a particular focus on nomads. So, the research contributes to the theoretical and applied dimensions of livelihood resilience. To accomplish these goals, a qualitative contextual case study method was employed. We used  semi …

O ver 90 percent of the agrarian system in the west of Iran is based on family farming. Thus, rural people in this region are dependent on agricultural resources, pastoral systems, and nonfarm activities for their livelihood, which has heightened their vulnerability to climate change. Therefore, this study aims to measure the livelihood resilience of family farming to climate change in Mahidasht. For this purpose, a cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in 2018. A total of 338 wheat farmers were selected for interview on the basis of a systematic random sampling method. The instrument developed by the Speranza module was translated into the Persian language. The reliability of the questionnaire was confirmed by Cronbach's alpha and Cohen's Kappa coefficient. Results revealed that the capacity for learning was improved compared to the other components of livelihood resilience. However, less than half of all participants (44.51) did not have adequate self-organization. Based on the results, the framework proposed for measuring livelihood resilience has a holistic view and can measure all aspects of resilience. It is, thus, recommended to use this framework in the research related to this field. Moreover, livelihood resilience to climate change was found to be influenced by gender, marital status, age, and level of education. Hence, it is recommended to local planners and relevant authorities to consider these differences when developing livelihood resilience plans in the region and design their plans based on these differences.

The economy is such a factor that decides the status of living. Sundarban is the largest area in the world with tidal halophytic mangrove forests. It is a delta of the Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Meghna rivers and is situated in the West Bengal state of India and the neighboring country of Bangladesh. Residents rely mainly on agriculture, livestock rearing, and fisheries. They face challenges such as poverty, marginalization, and an acute struggle against geo-climatic events. The present study was conducted to assess the socio-economic status of the farming community under the given resources such as demographic, physical, cultural, environmental, and social issues. A combined indicator of one’s economic and sociological status is the socioeconomic status. It is a nuanced measure based on income, education, and occupation, measured in a number of ways, which represented the work experience and social and economic status of an individual relative to others. The empowerment of women is a systematic concept and a dynamic multi-dimensional process that helps women to understand their distinctive characteristics and impact in all areas of life. To do this, it is important to unite and organize women into autonomous groups in order to gain unity and influence and facilitate collective action at the proper time. Rural women with backgrounds in the socioeconomic field are more likely to experience those diseases mainly because of their involvement in hard work in households. This paper examines recent changes in female workforce composition in the area of Sundarban regions. The study identifies the health and educational status of Sundarban women. The present paper deals with the changing role of the female in the development of the socio-economic condition of the Sundarban region.
Keywords: Socio-economic development, Occupational diversity, Education, Health, Sundarban regions.The economy is such a factor that decides the status of living. Sundarban is the largest area in the world with tidal halophytic mangrove forests. It is a delta of the Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Meghna rivers and is situated in the West Bengal state of India and the neighboring country of Bangladesh. Residents rely mainly on agriculture, livestock rearing, and fisheries. They face challenges such as poverty, marginalization, and an acute struggle against geo-climatic events. The present study was conducted to assess the socio-economic status of the farming community under the given resources such as demographic, physical, cultural, environmental, and social issues. A combined indicator of one’s economic and sociological status is the socioeconomic status. It is a nuanced measure based on income, education, and occupation, measured in a number of ways, which represented the work experience and social and economic status of an individual relative to others. The empowerment of women is a systematic concept and a dynamic multi-dimensional process that helps women to understand their distinctive characteristics and impact in all areas of life. To do this, it is important to unite and organize women into autonomous groups in order to gain unity and influence and facilitate collective action at the proper time. Rural women with backgrounds in the socioeconomic field are more likely to experience those diseases mainly because of their involvement in hard work in households. This paper examines recent changes in female workforce composition in the area of Sundarban regions. The study identifies the health and educational status of Sundarban women. The present paper deals with the changing role of the female in the development of the socio-economic condition of the Sundarban region.
Keywords: Socio-economic development, Occupational diversity, Education, Health, Sundarban regions.

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of psychological capital on villagers' entrepreneurial spirit through the mediating role of psychological empowerment. Present study is an applied research, which was based on structural equation modelling in terms of the method of analysis. Statistical population was villagers of Nahgadeh County (N = 12,155) that was estimated using Krejcie and Morgan sampling table (n = 375). The samples were selected using stratified random sampling method. Research tool was a structured questionnaire which its validity confirmed by a panel of experts. Furthermore, the reliability of the research instrument was accomplished through Cronbach's alpha coefficients (0.86 ≤ α ≤ 0.92). Structural equation modelling was employed in order to test the hypotheses. The results indicated that direct effect of psychological capital on psychological empowerment (t = 3.61, γ = 0.24) was positive and significant. Besides, psychological capital (t = 4.28, γ = 0.28) and psychological empowerment (t = 8.67, γ = 0.59) positively and significantly affected entrepreneurial spirit. The analysis of indirect effects demonstrated that the indirect effect of psychological capital on entrepreneurial spirit was significant (γ = 0.42). Finally, it should be mentioned that independent variables could account for 57% variance of entrepreneurial spirit and fitness indices of the model were at an acceptable level.

Traditional studies have predominantly focused on assessing the vulnerability of agricultural communities to climate change impacts, neglecting the examination of their resilience in relation to gender, social status, and ethnicity. This study aims to fill these gaps by employing the Livelihood Subjective Resilience (LSR) framework to measure household resilience and conducting a comprehensive analysis of the intersectionality across these dimensions. The research focuses on a sample of 188 ethnic minority households (94 Tà Ôi and 94 Pa Cô) in upland regions of Thua Thien Hue province, Vietnam. Findings reveal significant variations in resilience among these groups, particularly with lower LSR scores observed among women and the poor. Notably, poor women from Pa Cô ethnic households exhibit the most fragile resilience compared to other segments of society. This disparity is influenced by multifaceted ingredients including limited financial resources, restricted asset portfolios, patriarchal social norms, and psychological issues. The study thus emphasizes the need for targeted interventions to enhance the roles and rights of marginalized groups, particularly in terms of equitable access to resources like land tenure. Addressing poverty and inequality should be the most priority for achieving economic rural development, disaster preparedness, and resilience capacity building. The study highlights the importance of tailored training programs and non-refundable livelihood support to improve overall well-being and uplift disadvantaged groups. By combining these initiatives, a more inclusive approach to climate change resilience can be fostered, ensuring that no one is left behind.

Recognizing the resilience and especially the livelihood resilience of farmers is of great importance for policy makers. Thus, the present study is aimed to analyze farmers' livelihood resilience to climate change (LRCC). The studied area was Hamadan province in the west of Iran. The research methodology is qualitative content analysis (QCA) with a deductive approach, which is performed by selecting reliable sources and examining existing theories and content in livelihood resilience. The documents used for QCA included a systematic study of 44 articles from 33 journals (12 local (Iranian) journals and 21 international journals) and 5 M.Sc. thesis. The results indicated that farmers' LRCC are based on three dimensions including "buffer capacity (the sum of subsistence capital including human, physical, financial, natural and social capital)", "self-organization (ability to form flexible networks to deal with unbalanced conditions and environmental, economic and social challenges)" and "learning capacity (acquiring knowledge and skills to form a resilient structure)". In this regard, the most important factors affecting LRCC are: institutional-structural, environmental psychology, adaptation capacity and personal and professional characteristics. Finally, the LRCC model is presented in the agriculture sector, which can be used by policymakers in planning and making decisions.

Background The 2015 earthquake in Nepal caused massive damages and triggered relief activities to minimize human suffering. The post-earthquake nutrition and food security situation in the hardest hit areas remains uncertain. Methods Two national cross-sectional surveys were conducted in 2014 and 2016 among households (HH) with preschool aged children or newly married women. Of the 21 village development committees (VDCs) included in this sample, 7 fell within "earthquake-affected" areas. This paper presents data from 982 HH, 1015 women, and 883 children from 2014 and 1056 HH, 1083 women, and 998 children from 2016 living in these areas, with longitudinal overlap of about 55%. Prevalence estimates and 95% confidence intervals were calculated, and logistic regression was used to calculate p-values, both using robust estimates of standard errors to account for clustering. Results From 2014 to 2016, child wasting (weight-for-height z score <-2) fell from 4.5% (95% CI 3.3%-6.1%) to 2.1% (1.4%-3.1%) and food insecurity (assessed using the household food insecurity access scale) dropped from 17.6% (11.7%-25.6%) to 12.4% (6.9%-21.2%). Child stunting prevalence remained similar at both time-points. Improvements were also evident in dietary diversity and breastfeeding indicators. Conclusions Nutrition and food security conditions remained comparable or improved one year after the earthquake despite evidence of structural and other damage. Livelihood resilience to shocks

The Ganges-Brahmaputra delta enables Bangladesh to sustain a dense population, but it also exposes people to natural hazards. This article presents findings from the Gibika project, which researches livelihood resilience in seven study sites across Bangladesh. This study aims to understand how people in the study sites build resilience against environmental stresses, such as cyclones, floods, riverbank erosion, and drought, and in what ways their strategies sometimes fail. The article applies a new methodology for studying people's decision making in risk-prone environments: the personal Livelihood History interviews (N = 28). The findings show how environmental stress, shocks, and disturbances affect people's livelihood resilience and why adaptation measures can be unsuccessful. Floods, riverbank erosion, and droughts cause damage to agricultural lands, crops, houses, and properties. People manage to adapt by modifying their agricultural practices, switching to alternative livelihoods, or using migration as an adaptive strategy. In the coastal study sites, cyclones are a severe hazard. The study reveals that when a cyclone approaches, people sometimes choose not to evacuate: they put their lives at risk to protect their livelihoods and properties. Future policy and adaptation planning must use lessons learned from people currently facing environmental stress and shocks.

The forest-based Munda community is one of Bangladesh's many tribal communities, having their age-old religion, culture, customs, language, and knowledge, for which they are recognized as a unique group of people with different tribal traits. Originating in India, some of the Munda people travelled to Bangladesh around 300 years ago and have been living here ever since. Despite of their rich tradition and heritage, the Mundas are one of Bangladesh's most despised and disdained ethnic groups. Moreover, Mundas living in the Kalinchi village in the Sundarbans"s ecological zone, one of the country's most vulnerable locations, are facing major challenges from saline intrusion, tropical cyclones, storm surges, and what not. This research aims to explore Munda"s ancestral way of living, their traditional subsistence practices & their house pattern to infuse it to bring possible solutions towards a resilient Munda community. Initially, an anthropological study was conducted to uncover their indigenous foundations, traditional knowledge of living, and the events that shifted people away from their ancestral homeland. Later, architectural intervention was combined to achieve self-sustainability without losing the original traits. Additionally, this can help to preserve their ethnic identity and promote their indigenous heritage to the rest of the world. The final framework intends to increase the affordability of construction materials in an effective way to withstand climate challenges.

Background The 2015 earthquake in Nepal caused massive damages and triggered relief activities to minimize human suffering. The post-earthquake nutrition and food security situation in the hardest hit areas remains uncertain. Methods Two national cross-sectional surveys were conducted in 2014 and 2016 among households (HH) with preschool aged children or newly married women. Of the 21 village development committees (VDCs) included in this sample, 7 fell within "earthquake-affected" areas. This paper presents data from 982 HH, 1015 women, and 883 children from 2014 and 1056 HH, 1083 women, and 998 children from 2016 living in these areas, with longitudinal overlap of about 55%. Prevalence estimates and 95% confidence intervals were calculated, and logistic regression was used to calculate p-values, both using robust estimates of standard errors to account for clustering. Results From 2014 to 2016, child wasting (weight-for-height z score <-2) fell from 4.5% (95% CI 3.3%-6.1%) to 2.1% (1.4%-3.1%) and food insecurity (assessed using the household food insecurity access scale) dropped from 17.6% (11.7%-25.6%) to 12.4% (6.9%-21.2%). Child stunting prevalence remained similar at both time-points. Improvements were also evident in dietary diversity and breastfeeding indicators. Conclusions Nutrition and food security conditions remained comparable or improved one year after the earthquake despite evidence of structural and other damage. Livelihood resilience to shocks

The Ganges-Brahmaputra delta enables Bangladesh to sustain a dense population, but it also exposes people to natural hazards. This article presents findings from the Gibika project, which researches livelihood resilience in seven study sites across Bangladesh. This study aims to understand how people in the study sites build resilience against environmental stresses, such as cyclones, floods, riverbank erosion, and drought, and in what ways their strategies sometimes fail. The article applies a new methodology for studying people's decision making in risk-prone environments: the personal Livelihood History interviews (N = 28). The findings show how environmental stress, shocks, and disturbances affect people's livelihood resilience and why adaptation measures can be unsuccessful. Floods, riverbank erosion, and droughts cause damage to agricultural lands, crops, houses, and properties. People manage to adapt by modifying their agricultural practices, switching to alternative livelihoods, or using migration as an adaptive strategy. In the coastal study sites, cyclones are a severe hazard. The study reveals that when a cyclone approaches, people sometimes choose not to evacuate: they put their lives at risk to protect their livelihoods and properties. Future policy and adaptation planning must use lessons learned from people currently facing environmental stress and shocks.

The Ganges-Brahmaputra delta enables Bangladesh to sustain a dense population, but it also exposes people to natural hazards. This article presents findings from the Gibika project, which researches livelihood resilience in seven study sites across Bangladesh. This study aims to understand how people in the study sites build resilience against environmental stresses, such as cyclones, floods, riverbank erosion, and drought, and in what ways their strategies sometimes fail. The article applies a new methodology for studying people's decision making in risk-prone environments: the personal Livelihood History interviews (N = 28). The findings show how environmental stress, shocks, and disturbances affect people's livelihood resilience and why adaptation measures can be unsuccessful. Floods, riverbank erosion, and droughts cause damage to agricultural lands, crops, houses, and properties. People manage to adapt by modifying their agricultural practices, switching to alternative livelihoods, or using migration as an adaptive strategy. In the coastal study sites, cyclones are a severe hazard. The study reveals that when a cyclone approaches, people sometimes choose not to evacuate: they put their lives at risk to protect their livelihoods and properties. Future policy and adaptation planning must use lessons learned from people currently facing environmental stress and shocks.

Adaptation is a key strategy that can alleviate the severity of climate change impacts on agriculture and food production. Adaptation strategies are unlikely to be effective without an understanding of the farmers' perceptions of climate change. This paper explores the local knowledge of adaptation in response to the perceived impacts of climate change and climatic hazards using a survey of 380 resource-poor riverbank erosion-prone households in Bangladesh. The results indicate that the respondents' perceptions of changes in the climate and of extreme climatic events are similar to the observed climate data. Households have recognized the impacts on their livelihood and resources, resulting in an increased sense of vulnerability. To build resilience, households have undertaken a range of farming and non-farming adaptation strategies, which vary significantly among the farming groups. The important adaptation strategies include adopting new crop varieties, changing planting time, homestead gardening, planting trees and migration. Improved access to finance and to information about appropriate strategies appears to be crucial to support adaptation processes locally and thus to enhance the resilience of vulnerable households.

There is an urgent need to address interlinked sustainability issues in a world challenged by inequality, finite resources and unprecedented changes across Earth’s systems. As Future Earth Fellows, based on our collective expertise in a diverse range of sustainability issues, here we identify a specific need to recognise and respond appropriately to the nexus between human health and wellbeing, urbanisation, and ecosystem services (the ‘WUE nexus’). This nexus is a priority area for research, policy and practice. In particular, it provides a useful pathway to meet the challenges of successful implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In this brief, we present the following policy recommendations: 1. By emphasising urban-rural linkages, foster an integrated approach to ensure food security, food safety, and health promotion; 2. Secure resilient livelihoods for all, in particular for vulnerable groups; and 3. Integrate co-production of knowledge in science for decisi...