Natural hazards and livestock damage in Bangladesh

Abstract

Natural hazards are very common in Bangladesh that take place every year and damage crops, livestock and settlements. Data on livestock, flood, drought, cyclone, tide, thunderstorm, hailstorm, waterlogging, tornado and economic damages were collected from the existing literature for 2009–2014. Hotspots of natural hazards and damaged area coverage were determined based on total score, and IDRISI3.2 was used to prepare maps. About 10–32% areas in Bangladesh are moderate to very high natural hazard-prone. Moderate and high drought vulnerabilities were observed in about 14% areas for livestock production. Low and very low flood hazards for livestock could be found in about 22–44% areas. Hotspots for cyclones covered about 17% areas, high and very high storm/tides in about 22% areas and no safe zone against thunderstorm. Hailstorm damages more livestock in north and northwest part of the country covering about 23.8% areas. Moderate damages by tornado are distributed in 84% areas. Waterlogging hotspots are in southern part of Bangladesh that covers about 7% areas and livestock in about 52% areas suffered from low to moderate waterlogging problems. As a whole, natural hazards mentioned above are responsible for economic loss of < 1–35 million US$ and < 1–11.8 million US$ in livestock and poultry sectors depending on locations. Such loss in livestock sector is like to be increased in future because of climate change impacts, indicating that proper shelter and early warning systems must be in place to minimize damages in livestock sector from natural hazards.