Traditional Ecological Knowledge on Flow and Erosion processes in the Braided Jamuna river in Bangladesh: Part-II

Abstract

The Jamuna is a large scale sand bed braided river. It always changes it courses within its braid belt. Erosion is a major problem along the Jamuna river. More than thirty bank protection structures have been constructed along both banks of this river to protect bank from erosion. The response of these structures to the river is different. The people neighborhood of these structures has already gained experience-based traditional ecological knowledge. The main objectives of the present study are to investigate experience-based Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) on flow and erosion around different bank protection works. Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) method was used to investigate the (TEK) around different bank protection works. Different tools of PRA such as: Focus Group Discussion (FGD), Key Informant Interview (KII) and Informal Group Discussion have been used around some selected bank protection works along the braided Jamuna river. Finally, comparisons are made among the experienced-based TEK, field engineer’s knowledge, field measure result and result obtained from laboratory experiment. It has been found that there are similarities among the experienced-based traditional knowledge, field engineer’s knowledge, field measure result and result obtained from laboratory experiment. The following Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) have been investigated from the present study such as: (i) the TEK on flow and erosion processes around Sirajganj hardpoint, Betil and Enayetpur spurs, Shuvogacha spurs and around <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">bandal</i> structures, (ii) the experienced-based TEK on flow and erosion processes are very similar to scientific analysis from the field measured data, (iii) the causes of failure of the Sirajganj<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> </i>hardpoint, Betil and Enayetpur<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> </i>spurs and Shuvogacha, (iv) the indication of failure of bank protection works. It is clear that the local peoples experienced-based TEK can play a vital role in the management activity during emergency situation.