Youth-led research under a UNESCO-supported initiative has highlighted growing climate pressures on Indigenous communities in Bangladesh’s Chattogram Hill Tracts (CHT).
Environmental degradation, deforestation, monoculture plantations, and resource extraction are affecting livelihoods, cultural practices, and daily life.
Traditional ecological knowledge remains central to adaptation, but these knowledge systems are increasingly under threat. Indigenous women face disproportionate impacts due to limited access to resources and decision-making.
The study emerged from the Youth As Researchers (YAR): Indigenous Youth and Climate Change initiative, organised by UNESCO Bangladesh Office in partnership with Maleya Foundation and Zabarang Kalyan Samity. Indigenous youth researchers examined climate impacts and adaptation strategies within their communities, bringing local knowledge into broader climate discussions.
The research was presented at the Research Dissemination Session on Indigenous Youth and Climate Change in Chattogram. Policymakers, academics, development partners, Indigenous leaders, civil society representatives, and community members attended to discuss climate impacts, traditional ecological knowledge, and local adaptation practices.
Chattogram Divisional Commissioner Md Ziauddin, UNESCO Head of Office and Representative to Bangladesh Susan Vize, and Chakma Circle Chief Barrister Raja Devasish Roy attended, reflecting growing recognition of Indigenous youth perspectives in climate and development discussions.
The initiative involved five Indigenous youth research teams from the Chakma, Marma, Mro, Tripura, and Tanchangya communities. Each team explored a specific climate-related challenge through field-based, community-led research.
The Chakma team focused on youth-led adaptation strategies in Rangamati. The Marma team documented traditional survival practices alongside emerging climate challenges.
The Mro team investigated climate impacts on natural resources used to make the traditional musical instrument ‘Plung’, highlighting cultural implications.
The Tripura team studied climate effects on marginalised Indigenous women and their adaptation strategies.
The Tanchangya team examined water scarcity linked to stone extraction and the expansion of rubber and shegun plantations.
Together, the research demonstrated how climate change is reshaping livelihoods, ecosystems, and cultural practices across Indigenous communities.
The YAR initiative is part of a global UNESCO framework adapted in Bangladesh to strengthen Indigenous youth leadership through research, climate advocacy, and community engagement.
It began in February 2025 following a national consultation on Indigenous language use and preservation convened by UNESCO Bangladesh Office, Maleya Foundation, and Zabarang Kalyan Samity. The consultation highlighted the role of Indigenous knowledge systems and youth engagement in addressing social and environmental challenges.
Twenty-five youth researchers received training on research methodology, ethical considerations, data collection, and community-based fieldwork before conducting several months of field research.
The work resulted in research papers and policy briefs detailing climate impacts and adaptation strategies.
UNESCO Bangladesh Office said efforts are underway to sustain and expand youth-led research through continued engagement and knowledge exchange.
The initiative aims to strengthen the role of Indigenous youth in climate governance and ensure Indigenous communities’ knowledge, experiences, and solutions remain central to shaping inclusive and effective climate action.
