Issues surrounding water, risk and vulnerability in Bangla-desh have captivated managers and researchers for cen-turies. The region represents one of the most complexsociophysical interfaces on Earth and is often character-ized as 'extreme', including references to income, wealthand land distribution, sediment load, population density,seasonal water fluctuations and the resilience of indigentfloodplain inhabitants. Within this context, climate, popu-lation and socio-economic projections suggest that futureenvironmental management will face unprecedented chal-lenges (IPCC, 2007). In particular, both government andacademic authors prescribe the need for integrated orinterdisciplinary understandings in order to overcomethe growing complexity of water-related problems. Atissue is the development and the quality of life for whatwill potentially become a population of more than 250million by 2050 (UN, 2003). Such a future both dis-courages and calls forth contemplation, study and action.
展开▼
