Climate change, environmental degradation, deforestation, monoculture plantations, and resource extraction are placing increasing pressure on indigenous communities in Bangladesh’s Chattogram Hill Tracts (CHT), according to findings from youth-led research conducted under a UNESCO-supported initiative.
The findings suggest that indigenous communities remain particularly vulnerable because their livelihoods, cultural practices, and everyday lives are closely connected to natural ecosystems, researchers said.
While traditional ecological knowledge continues to play a critical role in helping communities adapt to changing environmental conditions, these knowledge systems themselves are increasingly under threat, the research found.
The study also highlighted broader social dimensions, including the disproportionate impacts faced by Indigenous women due to limited access to resources and decision-making spaces.
The findings emerged from the Youth As Researchers (YAR): Indigenous Youth and Climate Change initiative, organised by UNESCO in partnership with Maleya Foundation and Zabarang Kalyan Samity. Through the initiative, Indigenous youth researchers explored climate impacts and adaptation practices within their communities, bringing local experiences and traditional knowledge into broader climate discussions.
