'Her' Land - Master thesis by Sumaita Tahseen by Sumaita Tahseen

‘HER’ LAND Acknowledging feminine wisdom to conserve floodplains and initiate a female-led agroecological community

Sumaita Tahseen

In reminiscence of those whose languages are unheard, knowledge has been disregarded and militarized, even the earthworms, traveling birds, and beetles, all of whom live in the very core of Earth’s whole system.

“We are either going to have a future where women lead the way to make peace with the Earth or we are not going to have a human future at all.” ― Vandana Shiva

‘HER’ LAND Acknowledging feminine wisdom to conserve floodplains and initiate a female-led agroecological community

Authored by : Sumaita Tahseen ( 940610) Supervised by : Poli Matteo Umberto Advised by : Francesca Neonato MSc Sustainable Architecture and Landscape design School of Architecture Urban Planning, Construction Engineering Politecnico Di Milano - A.Y. 2020-2021 Polo Territoriale di Piacenza

Ackowledgment I would like to thank several people for their help and support during the production of this thesis. A great number of people, knowingly and unknowingly, supported my effort on this project. Poli Matteo Umberto has been an ideal teacher, mentor, and thesis supervisor, offering time, advice, and support among his busy schedules. Francesca Neonato has been a kind mentor who provided consistent support and guidance during the running of this project. Their insight and knowledge of the subject matter steered me through this research. I’m proud of, and grateful for, my time working with them. During my volunteering period at Pun Pun Organic Farm in Thailand, learning natural building and organic farming was the primary catalyst that directed me towards the idea of ‘Her’ land. The experience and knowledge gained from the community molded the ideologies of this thesis. My appreciation goes to the Pun Pun community for their dedicated battle towards saving mother earth.

A heart full of gratitude for my family and friends from both home and abroad, without whom I would not have made it through my master’s degree in the middle of a pandemic. I fall short of words while naming each person, who has always been there to listen to me, providing emotional support all along. My parents and sister have never failed with their positive guidance that restored my confidence every time I fell apart. Last but not the least, my partner has taken most of the grumpiness and mood shifts even from distance in these past years. Thanks to him for always staying strong and patient with me.

- Sumaita Tahseen

Abstract ( English ) In a capitalist world, the ‘mechanistic worldview’ has expedited the domination over nature and oppression of women, interconnecting different forms of exploitation in a single string. In contrast, the concept of ecofeminism asserts a direct biological and philosophical connection between the female body and the earth body, addressing feminine forces as primary protagonists of reviving the soil. However, female knowledge is not yet formally addressed in conservation initiatives and safeguarding natural environments. This research first attempts to connect the issues of land, women, and climate change, while empowering nature and women simultaneously by unleashing the positive forces of a creative Anthropocene. Aiming to explore the water-related climate issues, this research analyzes the agricultural floodplains of rural regions in Sylhet, Bangladesh, where river control, replacing women’s farming skills with modern agriculture and extractions have sequentially degraded the landscape’s moisture content. These have led to extreme flood vulnerability, long-term land destruction, and food insecurity in the region. ‘Her land’ intends to first address the flood mitigation measures by working with and not against water. Therefore, it follows the techniques of building with nature to slow the flood flow and let the moisture of land grow. By securing agronomy, in the next step, the proposed structure constantly explores the replaced traditional farming activities carried out by women to uncover the gaps between modern agricultural thoughts and practices. The design strategy concentrates on a permaculture-based self-sufficient community led by women climate leaders. The potential of the design includes but is not limited to wetland conservation, protected nature reserves, and 90-hectare permaculture farms in several scales of interventions. In this gender-sensitive community, eco-structures are built for women farmers and the extended community to perform agricultural and educative roles to preserve the land, nurture the seeds, and ensure food security. In the end, a revived landscape, “protected by mothers”, will empower women and educate the region by expanding their unique knowledge of earth care.

keywords: ecofeminism, women empowerment, flood vulnerability, permaculture, seed saving, food security

Abstract ( Italian ) In un mondo capitalista, la “visione meccanicistica del mondo” ha accelerato il dominio sulla natura e l’oppressione delle donne, interconnettendo diverse forme di sfruttamento in un unico filo. Al contrario, il concetto di ecofemminismo afferma una connessione biologica e filosofica diretta tra il corpo femminile e il corpo della terra, rivolgendosi alle forze femminili come protagoniste primarie della rinascita del suolo. Tuttavia, il sapere femminile non è ancora formalmente affrontato nelle iniziative di conservazione e salvaguardia degli ambienti naturali. Questa ricerca cerca innanzitutto di collegare i temi della terra, delle donne e del cambiamento climatico, dando contemporaneamente potere alla natura e alle donne, liberando le forze positive di un Antropocene creativo. Con l’obiettivo di esplorare i problemi climatici legati all’acqua, questa ricerca analizza le pianure alluvionali agricole delle regioni rurali di Sylhet, in Bangladesh, dove il controllo dei fiumi, la sostituzione delle competenze agricole delle donne con l’agricoltura moderna e le estrazioni hanno degradato in sequenza il contenuto di umidità del paesaggio. Ciò ha portato a un’estrema vulnerabilità alle inondazioni, alla distruzione a lungo termine della terra e all’insicurezza alimentare nella regione. La “sua terra” intende innanzitutto affrontare le misure di mitigazione delle inondazioni lavorando con l’acqua e non contro di essa. Pertanto, segue le tecniche di costruzione con la natura per rallentare il flusso delle inondazioni e far crescere l’umidità della terra. Assicurando l’agronomia, nella fase successiva, la struttura proposta esplora costantemente le attività agricole tradizionali sostituite dalle donne per scoprire le lacune tra i pensieri e le pratiche agricole moderne. La strategia progettuale si concentra su una comunità autosufficiente basata sulla permacultura e guidata da donne leader del clima. Il potenziale del progetto include, ma non si limita alla conservazione delle zone umide, alle riserve naturali protette e alle aziende agricole in permacultura di 90 ettari in diverse scale di intervento. In questa comunità sensibile alle questioni di genere, vengono costruite eco-strutture per le contadine e per la comunità allargata, che svolgono ruoli agricoli ed educativi per preservare la terra, nutrire i semi e garantire la sicurezza alimentare. Alla fine, un paesaggio rinnovato, “protetto dalle madri”, darà potere alle donne ed educherà la regione ampliando le loro conoscenze uniche sulla cura della terra.

Parole chiave: ecofemminismo, emopowerment femminile, vulnerabilità alle inondazioni, permacultura, risparmio di semi, sicurezza alimentare

Introduction

Literature review

Design objective & method

Reading the landscape

10 - 45

46 - 57

58 - 67

68 - 87

Issues and scope of study

Building with nature

Design question

Site introduction

Traditional agriculture in rural Bangladesh

Design concept

Moisture analysis

Research territory Research background - Haor basin

The permaculture way

- Haor ecology and livelihood - Haor agriculture and gender roles

- Riverbank gradient

Methodology

- Blue infrastructure

- XL - method

- Built accessibility

- L - method

& local settlement - Green infrastructure

Case study : Women’s opportunity centre

Risk analysis

- Aquatic flora in haor

- River body transformation

- Crop diversity in haor

- Floodwater scenario assesment

Research issues

- Quarry scenario assesment

- Modernization of haor agriculture - Quarry activity in haor - Changes in flora-fauna in haor - Environmental hazards in haor - Social hazards in haor

Conclusions Problem statement

Conclusions

XL - Strategy

L - Strategy

Design implementation

Epilogue

88 - 105

106 - 117

118 - 149

150 - 167

Strategy framework

Site introduction

Masterplan design

Vision of space

- Masterplan

Strategy toolboxes XL - Strategy map Strategy process

O’BREDIM method of permaculture

- Protective landscape strategy

Future flood resiliency

- Permaculture landscape strategy

Future ecology

Stakeholder’s collaboration network

- Circulation strategy - Built program strategy

Manifesto

Existing landscape configuration

Shelter for all

Bibliography

- Upland - Midland - Lowland

Vision statement

L - Strategy map

The core : women’s house and seed bank Production zone Production zone programs Riverbank zone Riverbank zone programs New ecological zone New ecological zone programs Botanical recommendation

The investigation began by seeing nature as a matter to determine humankind’s separation from it. The separation occurs in the form of development which presupposes that the present model of western civilization is the only model available to us, particularly the industrial culture. The very notion of it creates gender disparity and overlooks the core functioning system of a particular landscape.

01 INTRODUCTION

01 Introduction

Issues and scope of study

figurine of pregnant vegetation goddess from Vinea Culture(4900-4800 B.C.)

In neolithic Europe and Asia Minor (7000B.c. -3000B.c.), religion focused on the feminine force connected to life-giving, sustaining, death and renewal. The pregnant vegetation goddess symbolized the annual cycle of germination, growth and harvest held during grain seeds germinating in the field and new life growing in the womb.

conceptual illustraton of Khana, poet and astrologer(800-1200 A.D.)

But by the age of the classical Greek era, the role of women in society and religion radically changed and militarized under domination. Rather than a central feminine force guiding the world, male power and domination were the key belief. [1]

Khana, a woman poet and legendary astrologer (800AD - 1200AD) in folklores of Bengal, observed deeply the agrarian culture of rural land and predicted the weather, astrology, crops, and productivity. Her advice acquired the character of an oracle in rural Bengal and her tongue was cut to mute these wise words! [2]

‘HER’ LAND

Militarization of feminine knowledge

If oppression does not spare goddesses and folklore female protagonists, what happens to a mere rural woman, who only grows food to sustain life, who knows nothing else but to take care of soil and everything else surrounding it?

conceptual illustraton of a rural woman doing her household jobs, Bangladesh

01 Introduction

Issues and scope of study

Ecofeminism

Women leads the way in saving soil on earth

chipko movement, 1973, an eco-feminist depiction of forest conservation movement

The Chipko Movement, a protest led by mere rural women, followed Gandhian philosophy of peaceful resistance and was an uprising against the people destroying ecological balance. During the 1970s, when reckless cutting of trees started affecting people’s livelihoods, local women started hugging trees and saving the forest from destruction by even giving their lives. [3]

‘HER’ LAND

Ecofeminism principle Protector of family,culture, tradition

Feminine

connect

basic knowledge

experience

critical thinking

Prakriti(Nature)

Protector of all life forms

Will shifting from the mechanistic to eco-feminist worldview slow down the process of landscape degradation and empower women?

Ecofeminism , a movement that sees connection between the exploitation and degradation of the natural world and the oppression of women. Ecofeminists look at ecological problems as a feminist issue because women and other marginalized communities are the most vulnerable to the harmful consequences of climate change. [4]

01 Introduction

Research territory

Sylhet, Bangladesh 12,298 km²

The country is bordered by India on the west, north and east, by Myanmar on the southeast; the Southernmost area has a coastline along the Bay of Bengal.

Gowainghat, Sylhet 486 km²

Sylhet is the northeastern division of the country, bordered by the mountains of Meghalaya on the north.

Jaflong, Gowainghat 85 km²

Gowainghat is an Upazila in Sylhet district, containing 266 villages. The particular site area stretches from Jaflong to Gowainghat, and consists of wetlands and floodplains created by the Shari-Gowain river flowing from the Meghalayan mountains.

Having a sub-tropical climate, Agriculture is the largest employment sector in Bangladesh. Because of Bangladesh’s fertile soil and normally ample water supply, rice can be grown and harvested three times a year. But it is also one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change. Adaptation of the agricultural sector is a major concern here.

The lowlands of river and paddy are as organic as it seems

rural floodplain of Bangladesh, Photographer : Sajedure Hossain Taposh 17

01 Introduction

Research territory

Sylhet division

Bio-ecological zones Haor basin

Seasonal water

Himalayan piedmont plain

Permanent water

Surma-Kushiara floodplain Sylhet hills Meghna floodplain

Sylhet’s bio-ecological zone consists mostly of the haor basin, which is a wetland ecosystem, saucer-shaped shallow depression, considered to be of international ecological importance due to the extensive waterfowl population that uses the basin as its habitat. Surrounded by hillocks, the depression was caused by tectonic subsidence , during the earthquake of 1762.

Hydrological system

Therefore, the hydrological system mostly contains beels(perennial waterbodies) and creates this large floodplain. The mean rainfall pattern is the highest in whole country.

‘HER’ LAND

Mean rainfall pattern

Soil quality

Cropping pattern

2000-2500 mm

Alluvial course

Rice- Aush

2500-3000 mm

Marsh clay and pit

Rice- Boro

3000-3500 mm

Alluvial fine

Forest + Tea plantation

3500-4000 mm

Tertiary quartemary

Rice- Aman

4000-4500 mm

Tertiary

Rice- Robi

>4500 mm

The climatic condition brings silt into the floodplain which dominates the soil quality to mostly be alluvial fine and marsh clay. This geographical system of silty soil and wetland matrix makes the land fertile for deep water rice cultivation. So, rice paddy dominates the cropping pattern of the area. The small hills also host tea and palm plantation.

01 Introduction

Research background: Haor Basin

What is Haor basin?

Haor basin Haor regions Haor bodies

The local term ‘haor’ is used for a unique wetland ecosystem in Bangladesh, areas with bowl-shaped tectonic depression. The haor basin, comprising the floodplains of river tributaries would have consisted of a rich mosaic of permanent or

seasonal lakes and ponds. But through gradual sedimentation, the basin becomes shallower leading to the formation of reeds and sedges. This resulted in providing enough food and shelter to aquatic flora and fauna, added to the fertility of the waterbodies.

Tanguar Haor; added as Ramsar site for environmental protection Lengura Haor; isolated and falls under studied site area Hakaluki Haor; added as Ramsar site for environmental protection

dry season 20

conceptual illustration showing

g seasonal changes in haor basin

‘HER’ LAND

Haor basin marked as ‘ECA’ (Ecologically critical area)

During monsoon, a haor is a vast stretch of turbulent water within which the villages appear as islands. The basin includes about 47 major haors and 6,300 beels(perennial waterbody) of varying sizes, out of which about 3,500 are permanent and 2,800 are seasonal. [5]

wet season 21

01 Introduction

Research background: Haor ecology and livelihood

Geographical condition of haor basin

The livelihood in haor is dominated by its geographical condition. In this observed area, the rivers from Meghalayan mountains bring stone and sand along with the water flow. Therefore in the upland bordering areas, day laborers work in the quarry sites.

Moving to the midland and lowland areas, the depression in haor hosts these water flows and creates a preferable ecological conditions for agriculture and aquaculture. So, the inland population mostly depends on these for livelihood. [6]

Meghalaya(India)

political border

Sylhet(Bangladesh)

‘HER’ LAND

Livelihood and income source in haor basin

15%

22%

Tertiary income source Sand and stone quarry as day laborers

Secondary income source Aquaculture and boating activities

38% Primary income source Agriculture and animal husbandry

01 Introduction

Research background: Haor agriculture and gender roles

The gap between labor and ownership

Gender participation in agriculture [7] 88% 12%

Women labor Men labor

Land ownership in agriculture [7]

4% 96%

Women land owner Men land owner

Women work on the land but do they own any?

diagram showing gender biases in the ratio of rural agricultural labor and land ownership

women farmers engaged in agricultural activities

women farmers engaged in post-agricultural and household activities

Asset ownership, access to land, labor and income opportunities are crucial for a secured livelihood. Women perform intricate duties in agriculture whereas men mostly move to the urban areas for labor jobs. Yet in a society that is based on patrilineal kinship, women have little or no access to land and other assets. [8] So, their labor remains invisible in the equation.

‘HER’ LAND

Women’s participation in food production Subsistence/wage-labour agriculture

Gender participation in food production & security [9] 65% 35%

Women labor Men labor

Pre-harvesting (seed selection, preparation) Harvesting (planting,weeding, watering) Post-harvesting (threshing, drying, storing crops, seed saving, reuse of agri-waste) Income generating agricultural task Vegetable cultivation Organic pest control preparation Poutry rearing Cattle rearing Timber collection Family care agricultural task

diagram showing gender participation ratio in food production

Homestead gardening Cooking and food supply

Women twice as active as men in farm activities

Agriculture is not onlu about cultivation of crops. It is also about creating an atmosphere for the growth of plants, animals and all life forms, which are not cultivated. The livelihood of poor, especially of women, means an integrated system of farming,livestock, poultry and fisheries.[7] Women have an ingrained knowledge of the intricate sustainable agro-tasks.

01 Introduction

Research background: Haor agriculture and gender roles

Bangladesh has the potential of showing women-led biodiversity-based lifesustaining practices. The assault on agriculture continues unabated and those affected are the marginalized farmers and the women. However, it is the female who are resisting the corporate

control of agriculture and leading the newer approaches to lifeaffirming agricultural practices. They carry out food production according to social, cultural, and economic needs, providing nourishment to the family.

Sustainable agricultural functions by rural women

Seed saving,selection and preparation

Threshing, drying and storing crops

Re-use of agricultural waste in household activities

Homestead cultivation and gardening

‘HER’ LAND

Rural women learn the sustainable functions of cultivation in forms of earth and family care from their ancestors

Organic pest control and fertilizer preparation

Poultry rearing

Cattle rearing

Timber collection

01 Introduction

Research background: Aquatic flora in haor

The Haor Basin is the only region in Bangladesh where remnant patches of freshwater swamps and reed lands still exist. These few remaining patches of swamp forests contain flood-tolerant tree and shrubs species. Three habitat types in

Aquatic tree species [10]

Barringtonia acutangula

Pongamia pinnata

Ficus heterophylla

Dalbergia reniformis

Ficus benghalensis

Crateva religiosa

Alstonia scholaris

Lagerstroemia speciosa

Ficus hispida

the Sylhet region were identified : Upland, Emergent, and Aquatic vegetation. These are lowland evergreen forests of tropical nature, semievergreen forests, hill forests, moist deciduous forests, swamps, and flat lands with tall grasses.

‘HER’ LAND

The reed and marshlands of Bengal

These aquatic plants create highly productive ecosystems by filtering water and soil. They are also breeding grounds for fishes and migratory birds during winter. They are also locally known for making organic fertilizer and household products.

Aquatic shrub and grass species [11]

Arundo donax

Pharagmites karka

Saccharum spontanium Vetiveria zizaniodes

Lemnoideae

Nymphaeaceae

Centella asiatica

Phyllanthus disticha

Hygrophila

Eranthus ravannae

Ficus heterophyla

Nelumbo nucifera

Eichhornia crassipes 29

01 Introduction

Research background: Crop diversity in haor

Traditionally, Haor areas used to hold a great variety of productive trees and a diversity of cropping systems. The fruit trees are mostly cultivated by women in their gardens. The existence of these trees along the agricultural lands can

Productive fruit tree species [12]

Artocarpus heterophyllus

Mangifera indica

Carica papaya

Musa paradisiaca

Areca catechu

Citrus reticulata

Ananas comosus

Citrus maxima

Arecaceae

hardly be found now. In the cropping pattern, different varieties of rice are planted both in dry and wet seasons. Farmers follow various techniques to make the best use of both sandy and marshy soil to generate income as well as do subsistence agriculture.

‘HER’ LAND

Highly fertile alluvial soil of the backswamp

Productive crop species [12]

During the dry season, most of the water drains out leaving shallow beels which become overgrown with aquatic vegetation or completely dry out exposing rich alluvial soils extensively cultivated for rice and a large range of grains, vegetables, and herbs.

[13]

Oryza sativa

Camellia sinensis

Brassica nigra

Triticum aestivum

Vigna mungo

Linum usitatissimum

Sesamum indicum

Citrus macroptera

Coriandrum sativum

Lens culinaris

Cucurbita maxima

Capsicum annuum

Solanum tuberosum

Lathyrus sativus

Allium cepa 31

01 Introduction

Research issues: Modernization of haor agriculture

The Green Revolution is a neo-colonial script that imposed the use of the high-yielding variety seeds, fertilizer technology, and irrigation in the 1960s. At that time, Bangladeshi farmers used traditional methods of farming that they practiced since thousands

of years. Considering the hunger needs of a growing population, the farmers were led to an unsustainable practice of agriculture. Modern technology also includes using heavy machinery like tractor, power tiller, pump, reaper, thresher etc on soil.

Historical timeline of green revolution [14]

1960’s Green revolution was introduced with HYV seeds.

1970’s Green revolution was re-introduced as a post-war development programme with HYV seeds, fertilizer and pesticides, irrigation techniques.

1983 Free distribution of HYV seeds and pesticides by NGO’s

1990’s Hybrid seeds were introduced in rice and vegetable crops

‘HER’ LAND

The “Green Revolution” in agriculture

Technology use in haor agriculture [15] Modern technology

90% 10%

Conventional technology

Diagram showing ratio of technology use in agronomy

2001 Approval of hybrid seeds by National seed board

2012 Approval of agroindustrial intervention and bio-technology policy in hybrid seed making by Government

2013 Bangladesh became the first south-asian country to buy seeds from Bayer, USA

2019 Massive dependency on chemical use (37,187 metric tonnes pesticide, 28 lakh tonnes fertilizer)

01 Introduction

Research issues: Quarry activity in haor

Tentative quarry zones Seasonal water Permanent water Sand and stone quarry zones

Mechanized stone mining killing rivers

mechanized sand quarry in Jaflong, Sylhet

mechanized stone quarry in Jaflong, Sylhet

stone crushers (BOMA Machine) infront of a school, Sylhet

A significant economic contribution of the hilly rivers of Sylhet is the supply of huge volume of stones and sand through quarries with the purpose of extracting building materials. The largest quarry zone is Jaflong that falls in the designated site area. Traditionally stone and sand were collected manually which is now replaced by hydraulic excavators.

‘HER’ LAND

Impacts of quarry activity [17] Environmental impact

Low

Medium

Severe

Air pollution Noise pollution Soil contamination Biodiversity loss Aesthetic degradation Riverbank erosion Surface/ground water pollution Increase rate of stone crusher units [16] stone crushers 2000

1500

Mental problems Occupational disease Skin disease Lung disease

years

Socio-economic impacts

2021

2000

666

2011

574

500

2015

1000

Health impacts

Food insecurity/crop loss Violation of women rights

diagram showing the rate of increasing stone crusher units from 2000-21

Affected population due to quarry and crushing activities exceeds 407,000 which is more than half of living in the region

Along with quarry, the stone crusher units, mostly illegal, keep running in the whole region. The unauthorized and unregulated operation of these crushers are creating several environmental and health bio-hazards. A separate zone for stone crushing machines in Sylhet has not been created despite the High Court’s direction to do so.

01 Introduction

Research issues: Changes in flora-fauna in haor

Land cover change [18] Waterbody and wetlands Hilly forest vegetation Other tree cover vegetation Agricultural lands Built area

2000

1972

1980

2006

2015

Reduced to a few small patches

maps showing historical analysis of land cover change resulting to wetland and forest cover loss in Sylhet from 1972- 2015 by Bengal Institute for Architecture, Landscapes and Settlements

Tree cover loss over years [19] 1.2 kHa

900 600 300 0

‘01

‘02

‘03

‘04

‘05

‘06

‘07

‘08

‘09

‘10

‘11

‘12

‘13

‘14

‘15

‘16

‘17

diagram showing historical analysis of forest cover loss in Sylhet from 2001-21

‘18

‘19

‘20

‘21

The land cover changes show a diminishing factor of waterbody, wetlands and forest vegetation over years due to imposed rice cultivation and monoculture. As of 2000, 10% of Sylhet was natural forest cover. From 2001 to 2021, Sylhet lost 7.63kha of tree cover, equivalent to a 5.9% decrease in tree cover since 2000, and 3.35Mt of CO₂e emissions. [19]

‘HER’ LAND

Extinct and endangered wetland avifauna [20]

Pink-headed duck

Comb duck

Sarus crane

Bengal florican

Whistling teals

Garganey

Common teal

Mallard

Pochards

Pintail

Moorhen

Winter migratory birds from Europe, Siberia and Himalayas decreasing as Bangladesh loses wetlands

Snipes

Ruddy shelduck Common shelduck

Sandpipers

Spoonbill

Haors are considered the most productive wetland resources of Bangladesh. With the recession of floodwater, a large variety of small fishes, oysters, water snails and bivalves, and pasture spread over the surface attracting a large number of migratory birds. Consequent ecological alterations resulted in the declining number of these avifauna.

01 Introduction

Research issues: Environmental hazards in haor

Flood water extent Flash flooding zone River flooding zone

Waves of flash floods hitting Sylhet

heaviest flood in 122 years hits Sylhet

Daily chance of precipitation in Sylhet [21] dry

100%

wet

90%

dry

100% 90%

84%

80%

70%

60%

50%

43%

40%

50%

43%

40%

30%

20% 10% 0%

3% Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

chart illustration showing daily chance of precipitation in Sylhet from January-December

Dec

20% 10% 0%

Straddling the tropic of Cancer, Bangladesh has a tropical monsoon climate characterized by heavy seasonal rainfall, high temperatures, and high humidity. Though monsoon rainfall and river flood extent that facilitates rice cultivation keeps increasing over years, it’s the unanticipated flash flood run-off from Meghalayan mountains that create geo-hazard in this area.

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Flood vulnerability of Bangladesh [22] Flood vulnerability of Bangladesh due to average precipitation level factor 1

Vulnerability score high to low

Flood vulnerability of Bangladesh due to environmental and human factors Vulnerability score high to low

maps showing the risk concentration of flooding in Sylhet region by Tim St. Onge

The northeastern depressed region of Bangladesh is highly susceptible to recurrent flash flooding due to excessive rainfall over these areas and in the upstream hilly regions

The maps above indicate flood vulnerability in the whole of Bangladesh, which shows that vulnerability caused by both environmental and human factors is one of the highest in the haor region. Sudden flash flood submerges houses and agricultural land, causes damage to roads and fish ponds and the water stays longer than the natural period.

01 Introduction

Research issues: Social hazards in haor

Tentative violence report zones

Ratio of domestic violence [23] Women suffering from domestic violence 65%

Road network Towns of high DV rate on women in Sylhet (reported between 2011-2012)

Two of every three women face domestic violence here

Physical violence 65% Sexual violence 34% Psycological violence 80%

100%

80%

90% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%

women day laborer in quarry site, Jaflong

90% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%

diagram showing the ratio of different domestic violence forms on women

Bangladesh is one of the poorest countries which has an extremely high prevalence rate of violence against women, marking them as primary gender victims. A continuing state of DV seemed almost inevitable in the studied region and was a reflection of a woman’s subordinate status in society emanating from hegemonic patriarchal values and traditions. [24]

‘HER’ LAND

Connection between Violence and environmental destruction [25] Ingrained patriarchal culture of dominion/power

Environmental destruction

Poverty and frustration

Dowry

Women’s emotional and financial dependency

Child marriage Male child desire

Polygyny

the Diwalwal Gold Mine,Philippines, 1988. Destruction of the environment by extractive industries is linked to significant threats to women’s safety

Where Humans Destroy Nature, Women Also Suffer More Violence

Climate action leaders have warned for years that marginalized frontline communities in poor countries are already facing the most destructive impacts of the climate crisis, and a new study confirms those fears, detailing how women in those regions are at greater risk for violence and abuse as the environment is degraded. [26]

01 Introduction

Conclusions

Issue mapping okm

1km

2km

Seasonal water

River flooding zone

Permanent water

Road network

Sand and stone quarry zones

Towns of high DV rate on women in Sylhet (reported between 2011-2012)

Flash flooding zone

Regional intervention area : Shari-Gowain river stretching from Jaflong to Gowainghat

The map concludes the discussion of emergent issues by strategically locating them. For further inquiry, it aims to find a preferred intervention area suffering from critical environmental and social degradation. However, the discussions also suggest relationships between these decline in natural and social values, by marking women to be the primary climate victim.

‘HER’ LAND

Environmental hazards

Disruption to womens’ safety

Loss of biodiversity

Modernization of agriculture

Hazard to womens’ health

Extensive quarry activity

Abolition of women’s social status

Withdrawal of womens’ right

01 Introduction

Problem statement: Power over theory

WOMAN

LAN

“Keep the control over seeds, that’s the secret of e m p o w e r m e n t .” Seed preservation was held by women with their diverse and subtle knowledge

Modern agricultre system and hybrid market seeds from government

SEPARATION

P A

Use of modern a g r i c u l t u re replaces the i n t r i c a t e sustainability in food production, making women invisible

Illegal sand and stone quarry activity increases

SEPARATION

Women were forced to work in quarry sites. To make use of them, they are exploited to work under hazardous condition with lowest possible wage

‘HER’ LAND

MAN

R e c i p r o c a l relationship develops between woman and land

A T

The moisture (feminine) of the land is sequentially degraded and compromised

A T

The moisture of the land is hardened more by chopping down trees

Men migrates from the rural land to the cities in search for jobs

The seed is lost

A walk through the passage reveals that sustainable and integrated methods of generating a living are naturally present in Bangladesh’s rural areas. Although there has been a de-skilling as a result of urban interruption, the community is employing innovation to develop microsolutions through climate-adaptable farming methods.

02 LITERATURE REVIEW

02 Literature review

Building with nature

River conservation and flood mitigation

Research conducted by Ecoshape and One Architecture explores possibilities to optimize the human benefits of intervention while using the fluvial and estuarine system sustainably. River basin management is the key here and must allow for natural

processes, support biodiversity, and select site-appropriate land uses and activities that can accommodate periodic inundation while protecting the inland areas. [27]

Integrated approach to river conservation [27]

illustration showing integrated approach to river conservation by One Architecture and Urbanism

The research applied building with nature concept on a riverine landscape - includes clay ripening and consolidation, integrating vegetated foreshores, constructing nature islands, strategically placing fine sediment, managing re-alignment, restoring salinity gradients, constructing secondary channels and establishing wetland forests.

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Building with Nature - case of Demak, Indonesia

An initiative “Building with Nature Indonesia” carried out by Wetlands International “aims to build stable coastlines with reduced erosion risk through a unique integration of mangrove restoration, small scale hard-engineering and sustainable land use.” [28]

The five-year-long successful program (2015-2020) focused on the flood-prone shoreline in Demak by putting in place a model for sustainable land use. They aim to address the root causes of the erosion problems. The primary solutions provided are• • •

mangrove green belt permeable dam aquaculture

community involvement and climate resiliency in Demak, Indonesia

02 Literature review

Traditional agriculture in rural Bangladesh

Sustainable farming by women Revival of seed conservation In rural Bangladesh, women have learned intricate seed conservation techniques over a generation. Even though they went through a process of de-skilling due to their replacement from this job, several local and regional initiatives are bringing back the

tradition to battle climate vulnerability on their own. One such case is Alpona Rani, a rural woman living in a coastal village of Bangladesh who developed an integrated agricultural plan and started her journey in her 33 decimal homestead land. Not only production

varieties of seed drying and storing activity by rural women in Bangladesh

she is trying to search climate-adaptive crop varieties and also resilient farming techniques. She has started a community of women farmers to share seeds and save them from extinction. [29]

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An integrated system

Aquatic species collected by children

Provided food for ducks raised by women

Mixed cropping fields help partner plant

Provided food for chickens and cows

Road and farmside tree and plants

Provided food for goats

Provided food for chickens and cows

Cowdung as essential component

Provided organic manure

For rural women, agriculture is not only about the cultivation of crops. It is about creating an atmosphere for the growth of plants, animals, and all life forms, which are not cultivated. Livelihood means an integrated system of livestock, poultry, and fisheries.

It is, therefore, essential that such places are kept ‘safe’ from the use of chemicals and poisons so that animals and birds can survive. While they get the feed from the diversity in the landscape, animals and birds reciprocate to sustain the environment and contribute to a qualitative improvement of biodiversity. This refers to the ecological way of living by women. [30]

02 Literature review

Traditional agriculture in rural Bangladesh

Creative resistance to unsustainable farming Nayakrishi andolon and rules [31]

logo of Nayakrishi Andolon(New Agricultural Movement)

Started in the early nineties, Nayakrishi Andolon is an agrarian and community movement led by Bangladeshi farmers with more than 300,000 diverse agroecological farming units and extends to fishers, traditional healers, rural artisans and community.

men and women activists taking part in sustainable agricultural activities together

RULE 1: Absolutely no use of pesticides & harmful chemicals. RULE 2: No use of chemical fertilizer and external inputs RULE 3: Keep seeds in farmers’ hands RULE 4: Stop the use of deep tube wells and extraction of groundwater. RULE 5: Produce both cultivated and uncultivated food, fodder and manage spaces for the both. RULE 6: Copy the forest and produce biodiversity. RULE 7: Learn to calculate total yield of the household, community and the eco-systems RULE 8: All domesticated and semi-domesticated animals and birds are members of the farming households RULE 9: Water and aquatic diversity are integral to agricultural practice. RULE 10: Integrate non-agricultural rural activities of potters, weavers, blacksmith, crafts and all forms of livelihood.

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Adaptive new practices Sandbar cropping Sandbar cropping techniques transform the sandy unutilized riverbank into productive, cultivatable lands by providing food security. [32] Organic sack gardening This project encourages the landless to grow vegetables in tall sacks, in little space and using wastewater, while the method is cheap and climate resilient. [33] Hydroponics In the lowlands of Bangladesh, people are turning to a centuries-old form of hydroponics to keep afloat. [34] Family gardening A group of marginal farmers in various parts of Bangladesh has started nature-based family farming to cultivate different vegetables without using chemical pesticides. [35]

02 Literature review

The permaculture way

Why we need permaculture? The concept and model Research conducted by Graham Bell proposes the idea of Permaculture (permanent agriculture) to design a way of arranging life to be abundant by making conscious decisions, managing resources, and reducing waste. The book gives an insight into how

to start permaculture, design considerations and its beneficial factors to earth and all living beings. The ideologies can be adapted to any culture or place, at any scale. Along with people and earth care, it also gives away the surplus.

Conceptual permaculture design model [36]

The first step to achieving ‘suitable placement’ is to consider our calender of actions in relation to our environment. It starts from a core near all resources and spreads eventually to different zones. Zones are areas having definable time/ space relationships. Some actions are daily, some less frequent like weekly, monthly, or only at certain times of year. illustration showing concept of core permaculture design model

[36]

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Ethical practices [36]

Permaculture principles start from universal aims - the patterns of all things. Theoretical patterns can be found in nature that are implemented in design as tangle patterns. The ethical practices discussed in the book are • • • • • • • • •

illustration showing layering of vegetation to provide interdependency in permaculture

M i n i m u m intervention Maximum useful relationships Liabilities into asset Diversity in elements, duplicity in functions Stacking and layering High yield The flywheel effect Starting near Designing element templates

A permanent culture of community that is self-sustainable can be built through these ethical approaches. The community grows through co-operation, communication, trade, decision making and provides security. [36]

02 Literature review

Case study : Women’s opportunity centre

Women’s opportunity centre, Rwanda Sharon Davis Design On a two-hectare site in Rwanda, the Women’s Opportunity Center is empowering one small community and, in turn, rewriting role as designers. In this semirural setting, women dedicate their days to small subsistence farms, fetching fresh water, and

learning area and courtyard at women’s opportunity centre

scavenging wood for fuel. This mini-village transforms urban agglomeration and subsistence farming with an architectural agenda to create economic opportunity, rebuild social infrastructure, and restore African heritage. [37]

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sustainability and self-sufficiency by agriculture at women’s opportunity centre

The project also includes a demonstration farm that helps women produce and market their own goods. This Commercial Integrated Farming Initiative teaches women to produce income from the land through organic techniques geared toward commercial production. Set around an inviting plaza easily reached by motorists and public transit, a market showcases the center’s economic potential. [37]

Seeing through own eyes, the design question focuses on ecofeminist methods and feminine forces. This leads to the concept of three scales, XL (focusing on climate and biodiversity), L (focusing on agriculture), S (focusing on community).

03 DESIGN OBJECTIVE & METHOD

03 Design objective and method

Design question

“What are the eco-feminist methods to slow down the process of landscape degradation by using natural elements as leverage...

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...and re-generate the sustainable agricultural practices by bringing back the potential of feminine force?”

03 Design objective and method

Design concept

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S - CONCEPT A woman’s house and seed bank as central lifegiving unit, follows the feminine dimension of sacred without a clean act of control and precision

L - CONCEPT Community of women leaders , building a permeable agricultural landscape under permaculture philosophy

XL - CONCEPT Slow the flow and let the moisture grow by river conservation

03 Design objective and method

Methodology - XL method

Ecosystem-based approaches

‘Building with nature’ is a conceptual approach to creating, implementing and upscaling NatureBased Solutions. According to the IUCN, NBS solutions are “actions to protect, sustainably manage and restore natural or modified ecosystems that address

nge

cie

e all

societal challenges effectively and adaptively, simultaneously providing human well being and biodiversity benefits.” [38] Using nature as a leverage, the aim is to apply NBS solutions on the current rivarian landscape and ensure flood resiliency.

ro a

Riparian vegetation

ecosyst

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illustration showing ecosystem-based approches for flood mitigation

Wa te

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Community involvement

Building with Nature

In the face of multiplying climate-related environmental threats and potential exposure to natural hazards, hard infrastructure alone may no longer be enough to build climate resilience. [39] So, the aim is to use green and socially inclusive concepts.

ecosystem-based hybrid engineering and community involvement for flood mitigation

03 Design objective and method

Methodology - L method

Permaculture ethics

“We are surrounded by insurmountrable opportunities. ”

Earth care

Fair share

People care

- Bill Mollison

Permaculture is a form of permanent agriculture that integrates land, resources, people, and the environment through mutually beneficial synergies – imitating the no waste, closed-loop systems seen in diverse natural systems. Permaculture studies and applies holistic solutions that are applicable in rural and urban contexts. farming techniques of permaculture

D e s i g n creating synergistic r e l a t i o n s h i p s between previously defined resources

io th n si e gn

M a i n t e n a n c e site maintenance and timeline of growth O’ BREDIM method of PERMACULTURE

n o s, i te p d s s e t ne 3 a u irst fic f eci l a ng sp v ati E alu find ev to

o an de u d rst n th and d e in lim g a r iti i ng fo e fa rc s ct es or s un

O b s e r v a t i o n understanding patterns and relationships, natural functioning of the site

Permaculture method

I En m p de er l si gy e gn m at ed flo e n w t

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[40]

R e s o u r c e s what we have, the people involved, the knowledge, what we can grow

Making and interpreting maps, looking far and near into the selected landscape and comparing changes revealed variances in soil moisture content that led to various forms of ecological issues.

04 READING THE LANDSCAPE

04 Reading the landscape

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Meghalaya

Jaflong Khasi village

Matriarchal tribal village settlements

Hill station for tourist destination and

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Jaflong bazaar

Riverbody flowing from Meghalayan upland

Village settlement with agricultural fields

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Haor floodplain

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Lowland floodplain and rice cultivation area

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Swamp forest

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Gowainghat village Village settlement with agricultural fields

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Political border between Bangladesh and India

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mountain range of Meghalaya , India

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Patches of freshwater swamp trees

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Earthview of selected site area okm

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The studied area consists of the Shari-Gowain river flowing from upland Meghalayn hills to Gowainghat floodplains in the lowland, making it highly critical to flooding. Nonetheless, this area characterizes some unique ecosystems along the riverbank that draw visitors from far places all year long.

04 Reading the landscape

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Alluvial fan

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Marsh clay and pit River section

The riverbank gradient indicates the different quality of geographical formation along the riverbed. The soil quality fluctuates from alluvial fan, coarse, and fine to marsh clay and pit due to constant movement. On the other hand, the water gradient and quality change due to human intervention along the river, deteriorating from upland towards lowland.

Riverbank gradient 73

04 Reading the landscape

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Permanent river body

Pond

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Seasonal wetland

Old traces of canal

Prints

Wetness calculator

River natural stream, named as Shari-Gowain bringing water from Meghalayan mountains. Canal irrigation purpose canals carrying water to the agricultural land from river. Pond shallow man-made waterbody for domestic use, agriculture and aquaculture. Beel perennial waterbody and lake-like wetland with static water.

Seasonal wetland a wetland ecosystem, physically a bowl-shaped shallow depression collecting monsoon water.

04 Reading the landscape

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Wetness calculator Khasi tribal houses semi-permanent structure Dry-season shops temporary structure

Typical rural settlement semi-permanent structure Agricultural storage temporary structure Agricultural storage temporary structure Brick klin fields permanent structure

Typical rural settlement permanent structure

04 Reading the landscape

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Wetness calculator Plantation Regulated palm and tea plantation in the upland Settlement vegetation Dense village trees and shrubs, mostly productive trees Agriculture Several species of rice paddy in dry and wet seasons, vegetables, musturd and betel leaf cultivation Swamp forest Freshwater swamp forests, consisting of wetland ecosystem, inundated permanently or seasonally.

Wet marsh Wetland ecosystem, consisting of clay and marshy vegetation, inundated permanently or seasonally 79

04 Reading the landscape

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04 Reading the landscape

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Floodwater 2020 Agriculture Annual water extent

Rainfall Monsoon river flow

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Pre monsoon (march-may)

Monsoon (june-october)

Post Monsoon (november-february)

36-394 mm

435 mm

13-33 mm

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Normal monsoon flood Flash flood

Danger level 14m

Recorded highest water level 12.5m

Recent research has strengthened the theory that climate change is disrupting the annual monsoon in South Asia. Therefore, the Sylhet region faces the combined effort of monsoon and flash floods. The annual floodwater extent indicates that all suitable agricultural lands stay submerged for more than half a year, while the casualties tend to increase every year.

04 Reading the landscape

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Sand quarry zone Stone quarry zone Stone crusher unit

Noise Pollution extent Noise pollution occurs within 78-98 Decibel due to stone crushing activities. The stone crushing machines placed often illegally, exceed the current limits without creating a buffer from the settlements.

Air pollution extent CO2 pollution due to the stone crushing and quarry activities. The air quality of PM 2,5 and PM10 exceeds in the marked areas by deteriorating the living condition.

Soil pollution extent Soil pollution due to uncontrolled quarry activities in all seasons, exceeding the limit of the land and decreasing the beneficial qualities of soil organisms.

04 Reading the landscape

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A walk through soakability revealed the changing nature of the soil depending on its permeability. The moisture of the landscape has sequentially been degraded, hardened, and compromised through various modern agricultural techniques and quarry activity. Therefore, floodwater cannot filter through the soil, creating havoc in rural life.

The strategy framework identifies the climate risks present in the current analysis and proposes blue, green and built Nature-based solutions in three districts: upland, midland and lowland. The NBS solutions are divided into a series of toolboxes and implemented to address specific target risks.

05 XL - STRATEGY

05 XL - Strategy

Strategy framework Climate risks A

Extreme flooding

A.1 accelerated surface runoff A.2 degraded permeability

Pollution

B.1 critical noise pollution

B.2 critical CO2 pollution

Increasing climate victims

De-natura lization

B.3 critical soil pollution

NBS green solutions

C.1

erosive meanders

NBS built solutions

C.2

agricultural vulnerability

D.1 Wetland loss to agriculture D.2 Deforestation to quarry

NBS blue solutions

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Strategy application on landscape

lan

dla

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05 XL - Strategy

Strategy toolboxes NBS solutions

Upland - tools and target risks

Midland

Re-alignment and local deepening of river in catchment area

Reclama agricultu

Enlargement of upland river catchment area

Local dee the river

Reclamation of upland forest buffer

Renatura meander vegetatio

Construction of permeable dams

Construc permeab

Limiting quarry activity inside forest buffer

Construc earthen emergen

A.1

NBS blue solutions

A.1

B.2

A.2

B.3

D.2

A.2

C.1

A.2

NBS green solutions

A.1

NBS built solutions

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C.1

B.2

B.3

Limiting touristic activity to specific site and season B.2

B.3

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A.2

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d - tools and target risks

Lowland - tools and target risks

ation of ural canal matrix

Reclamation of seasonal waterbody matrix

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A.2

D.1

eping in r

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alization of rs with riparian on

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C.1

Renaturalization of meanders with riparian vegetation A.2

B.3

C.1

Reclamation of wet marsh vegetation matrix A.2

B.2

D.1

Restoration of swamp forest ecosystem A.2

B.2

D.1

ction of ble dams

Construction of permeable dams

ction of temporary mounds as ncy crop storage

Shelter for women-led permaculture community

C.1

C.2

A.1

B.2

C.1

C.2

05 XL - Strategy

XL - Strategy map

NBS blue solutions

NBS green solutions

Re- aligned river body

Proposed upland forest buffer

Seasonal river body expansion

Existing agricultural land

Water matrix components

Proposed riparian vegetation Proposed wet marsh vegetation Proposed swamp forest vegetation

The NBS blue strategy is proposed as a response to shocks and stresses related to flood hazards. The liberty of fluid flow has been reconsidered by restoring the water matrix which provides connectivity and space for flooding. The channels and seasonal water bodies offer depth variations, slow water flow, and expand space for sedimentation.

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NBS built solutions Zone for tourist activity Zone for quarry activity Permeable constructed dam Earthen constructed mound Proposed permaculture community

The NBS green strategy expands natural space from upstream to the downstream environment. The reclaimed upstream forest buffer addresses flash flood issues. Progressing towards the downstream, riparian and wet marsh matrix create flood pulses which also avert discontinuities and structural disruptions to support ecosystem processes.

To strengthen resilience, the NBS built solutions propose an integrated hybrid result. They enhance the capacity of flood resilience by engineering with nature. The secondary aspect of built solutions focuses on the social dimensions at the community level to battle pollution and restore the biodiversity of the ecologically critical site.

05 XL - Strategy

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Potential XL - strategy map okm

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Re- aligned river body

Proposed upland forest buffer

Seasonal river body expansion

Existing agricultural land

Water matrix components

Proposed riparian vegetation

Zone for tourist activity

Proposed wet marsh vegetation

Zone for quarry activity

Proposed swamp forest vegetation

Permeable constructed dam

Proposed permaculture community

Earthen constructed mound

Slow the flow & let the moisture grow The potential strategy map implements several Nature-Based Solutions. Accumulating all of them together, the vertical integrands of the landscape operates to slow down the flow of floodwater and horizontal integrands to bring back the moisture into the land.

Bringing the life-giving fluid inside the soil enables the land to restore its femininity. So, the aim of this is not to impose harder construction on the soil and river anymore, but to use what is existing, as leverage and build up a reciprocal relationship between land and all the organisms.

05 XL - Strategy

Strategy process - Upland

Re-alignment and local deepening of river in catchment area

Construction of permeable dams

Vision

Strategy process

Finding where the wave velocity is higher during flood event

Existing

Existing upland river

Soil Ground water Permanent water Flood water Existing ground line

Enlargement of upland river catchment area

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Limiting quarry activity inside forest buffer

Identifying the area that needs to be desilted and dredged

Placing the stone crushing area inside forest buffer

Reclamation of upland forest buffer

Finding where the wave velocity is higher during flood event

Damaged soil in existing quarry site

Deforestation in existing quarry site

05 XL - Strategy

Strategy process - Midland

Construction of temporary earthen mounds as emergency crop storage

Construction of permeable dams

Existing

Strategy process

Vision

Soil Ground water Permanent water Flood water Existing ground line

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Local deeping in the river

Tracing and re-excavating silted up old canals

Identifying the erosive outside bend of the meander

Existing agricultural lands vulnerable to flooding

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Renaturalization of meanders with riparian vegetation

Reclamation of agricultural canal matrix

Expansion of tributary canal mouth

Tracing and re-excavating old canals +

Existing silted up tributary canals

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05 XL - Strategy

Strategy process - Lowland

Reclamation of seasonal waterbody matrix

Reclamation of wetland vegetation matrix

Renaturalization of meanders with

Construction of permeable dams

Vision

Strategy process

Tracing and reexcavating silted up old canals

Creating flood pulse buffer from canals and waterbodies +

Existing

Existing perennial waterbodies

Soil Ground water Permanent water Flood water Existing ground line

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Identifying the erosive outside bend of the meander

Existing damaged agricultural lands

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Permaculture community

Restoration of swamp forest ecosystem

Implementation of permaculture principles

Tracing the innermost areas of the backswamp

Existing damaged barren riverbank

Existing damaged barren backswamp

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05 XL - Strategy

Vision statement

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The O’BREDIM strategy is implemented in the selected site area for the permaculture community to design a system of cohabitation. Additionally, a stakeholder’s network is proposed combining inner and outer region actors to achieve the proposed constitution.

06 L - STRATEGY

06 L - Strategy

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Zooming into the land for an intentional p e r m a c u l t u r e community, a basic visual interpretation of the area is analysed. The landscape contains fluidity and cohabitation in different layers of blue and green infrastructures present and proposed in XLscale. Along with it, it also shows the co-existence of various passive actors in the landscape.

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06 L - Strategy

O’BREDIM method of permaculture Observations pattern and relationship

Boundaries ecological corridor

Resources co-habitation between active and passice actors

meandering textuality

fluid inhabitation

active vegetational actors

passive actors

tributary textuality

horizontal configuration

systemic co-habitation

passive actors

fluid connectivity

vertical configuration

active vegetational actors

passive actors

active vegetational actors

passive actors

layered connectivity

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Evaluation linking patterns, boundaries and resources

Hydrography The river follows the meandering and braided form. The tributaries follow dendritic pattern joining the main river at an acute angle.

Agriculture The shape of the agricultural lands and divisions mostly follow the water course and spread towards the outher edge.

Settlement The elements of settlement (house, vegetation, street) follow the agricultural pattern facing towards water.

Eco-corridor The eco-corridor should be considered as a boundary that can not be interrupted by human intervention.

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06 L - Strategy

Stakeholders collaboration network

Community actors Local formal actors Regional formal actors

local women gardeners

Centre for Natural Resource studies (CNRS)

Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers’ Association (BELA)

SAVE Sylhet

Sylhet Agricultural University

Reliant Women Development Organization (RWDO)

Wildlife conservation centre

Voluntary Association for Rural Development (VARD)

Diagram showing community, local and regional actors (both formal and informal organization) present in the selected radius (within 300 km) 112

0 30

local women farmers

local women crafters

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Formal actors and organisations working with women empowerment

Formal actors and organisations working with nature and biodiversity collaborate

Community actors

The inventiveness of local artistry and farming techniques provide numerous prospects for social development alone. However, local and regional organizations are present in Sylhet working with wildlife conservation as well as female emancipation. Sylhet agricultural university can also play a great role here working hands-on with the community.

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River body Existing settlement vegetation Existing agricultural fabric Existing street Existing settlement houses

The existing landscape contains paddy fields beside the waterbody with dispersed farmer’s settlements. There is a discontinuity in vehicular connectivity. As a consequence, during flood events, these zones become isolated without receiving proper support. These farmlands also experience prolonged periods of flooding due to a lack of flood prevention systems.

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100 m

500 m

1:10,000

Water Proposed riparian vegetation Proposed wet marsh vegetation Proposed swamp forest vegetation Permaculture water Permaculture zones Permaculture core Economic nodes Rural-urban connectivity Ecological connectivity Rural connectivity Water connectivity Existing settlement houses

Using the O’BREDIM approach to analyse data yields the permaculture community’s plan. The landscape is protected with riparian and wetland vegetation derived from XL - strategy. The permaculture zones spread from the inner core to outer edges. Settlement vegetations are connected to address the edge and ecotone effects between farmlands.

117

The design implementation, starting from the masterplan to different layers focusing on protective landscape,circulation and built program, stimulates not only the site’s biological advantages but also the community’s empowerment. The design begins in a core and moves outward, returning energy back to the centre while doing so.

07 DESIGN IMPLEMENTATION

07 Design implementation

Masterplan design 0

Production zone Permaculture focus

0.5

Riverbank zone wet marsh and riparian

1.5

2.5

120

New ecological zone forest and biodiversity

‘HER’ LAND

Masterplan design okm

100 m

1:10,000 500 m

The masterplan design proposes an integrated system of wetland, forest, and permaculture networks. The systemic process of design rather than against nature; works with a thoughtful observation by eliminating thoughtless labor, looking at plants and animals in all their functions, rather than treating any area as a single product system.

To zoom into the design factors, the master plan is divided into three zones: the Riverbank zone focusing on the wet marsh and riparian area, the New ecological zone focusing on forest and biodiversity, the Production zone focusing on p e r m a c u l t u r e cultivation system and the core infrastructures.

121

07 Design implementation

Masterplan design 0

0.5

Protective riparian vegetation

Protective wetland vegetation

Flood protected agriculture

Protective water matrix

1.5

Shari-Gowain river

2.5

122

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Protective landscape strategy 1:10,000 okm

100 m

500 m

Protective freshwater swamp forest

The protective landscape strategy lends space for the river to have natural overflow by creating the wetland, water matrix, riparian vegetation and freshwater swamp forest. This focuses on the spontaneous movement of waterbody rather than controlling it to create flood resiliency and food security. The particular landscape also hosts wide variety of biodiversity in it’s ecosystem.

123

07 Design implementation

Masterplan design 0

0.5

1.5

2.5

124

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Permaculture landscape strategy okm

100 m

500 m

1:10,000

Zone 1 Herbs, flowers and sandbar cropping

Zone 2 Seasonal, rotational vegetable gardens Zone 3 Seasonal crops ex: mustard,lentil

Zone 4 Open grassland for grazing and crop drying Zone 5 Traditional, rotational rice cultivation Zone 6 Wilderness, unmanaged forest Zone 7 Edges and ecotones of different cultivation lands, local productive trees Permaculture zones

125

07 Design implementation

Masterplan design 0

Vehicular connection with urban and rural area

Vehicular connection w urban and rural area

0.5

Elevated pathway for sharing & economic activity

1.5

2.5

126

Exploration trail to protective wetland

Soft vehicular connection inside the rural area

Agricultural pat pause nodes for f

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Circulation strategy okm

500 m

Primary vehicular road Secondary non-engine vehicular road and walking path Elevated pathway and plaza

with

hways & farmers

100 m

1:10,000

Agricultural pathways Elevated exploration pathway Riverbank plaza and deck Waterway

Waterways as local and regional transportation

Exploration trail to protective ecological zone

The rural landscape does not contain extensive heavy vehicular intervention. Waterway works as a primary network in and out of the region. Two primary vehicular high roads connect the site with the urban area leading to plazas for economic activities. The elevated ring pathway also contains exchange activity and connects the outer region to

permaculture core, ensuring the supply of resources. Secondary soft vehicular connection and agricultural pathways ensure movement inside the site through the agricultural lands and settlements. The elevated soft exploration trails allow movement to the protective wetland and swamp forest areas, without interrupting the biodiversity corridors.

127

07 Design implementation

Masterplan design 0

0.5

Seed sharing & farmers market

Constructed permeable dam

Parking and farmers market

Parking & farmers market

Seed bank & womens’ house

Chicken shelter Shaded pavillions for farmers 1.5

Aquaculture

2.5

128

Duck shelter

Cat cow

‘HER’ LAND

Built program strategy okm

100 m

1:10,000

500 m

Built permanent shelters Built temporary structures Permeable dam Pavillions Aquaculture structures

ttle shelter for w and goat

Bird shelter Watch tower

The core is supported by a life-giving structure, which is called the seed bank and women’s house for the climate warriors to collaborate. It also contains temporary structures to host exchange activities. The permaculture zone hosts shelters for domestic animals placed strategically to maximize energy supply.

The ecological zone is supported by some radical structures for sheltering animals, aiding biodiversity and food production. Constructed permeable dams are made out of agricultural and vegetational waste to slow down the flow of flood.

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07 Design implementation

Shelter for all

Seed bank and womens’ house

Chicken shelter

Duck shelter

130

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Cattle shelter for cow and goat

Watch tower

Bird shelter

The new landscape must negotiate a multitude of spatial demands which are addressed through equitable structures that provides shelter for all habitat. This approach contributes to enhancing biodiversity by placing shelters for migratory birds, ducks, cattle, chickens, and human in strategic locations.

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07 Design implementation

The core : women’s house and seed bank

e us ho s ’ ren ild e ch us n ho he s ’ a n y k i tc m wo unit m com nk ba d e e

The woman’s house and seed bank, situated in the core, works as the central unit of ‘Her’ land. The centre has three volumes with elevated roof, creating openings for air and light. The circular rammed earth walls give an easy poetry to the inhabitant’s occupation. Contradictorily, a linear form of the seed storage unit, flows through, by intersecting and creating value to the centre.

132

133

134

unmanaged wilderness

floodable rice cultivation

soft vehicular connection

agricultural pathway

floodable rice cultivation

homestead vegetation

wet marsh

seasonal croplands

agricultural pathway

vegetable cultivation

seed bank

women’s house

elevated economic ring

floodable rice cultivation

07 Design implementation

Production zone

‘HER’ LAND

Production zone - 1:5,000 permaculture focus okm

100 m

200 m

wet marsh

exploration trail

1 . Permaculture program and activities

The production zone focuses on manifesting the permaculture construction by designing from pattern to details. It follows the permaculture rule of reducing footprint and maximizing energy by placing the functions strategically, spreading from the core, the heart of all necessary resources.

135

07 Design implementation

Production zone programs

io ect nn a o r c re ula n a h i c u rb a e v h t wi

e ng ha k rket c n x a a ,e ng ng e rb s m cti ari ring ne riv mer’ h n s c co ys far te d m i ck va ono de erwa e l e c e os wat de rp an i p u o u gh t l mu e thr r g co kin oa s as m er uff ediu b g h m kin ars ing oa s t m urify e as ium w st d dp an ore g me f n n a i ari fer rip buf et d k n a a n m a rk b r e s riv mer’ le far tab ge ar e v db g san ppin cro

s nd ith pla til w lions o r en vil lc r na ard,l g pa ffe o s t n bu m sea mus resti h s : ar ing ex ded t m ify a we pur sh d an

e om , w as k an n d b rde s e e b ga he r ns he ke us c i ch r ho a ne

136

‘HER’ LAND

it d sw an ith s g e w d t zin er ern ion an en ild etat gra shelt em tion r l w t o t eg w e ta d ed df ag illy v an th co ank s vege lan l n ing s a k h g i s d b f n m oa gra g w river stea razi un ers o ss e g en ryin y r a um l p m a a l d o p ho son di cro me sea

d an k ing g dec h s n fi ati bo aq

cu ua

ltu

1 . Permaculture program and activities

eg lv

eta

ble

io tat na ge n so s e a v e n e s de d ard r ea ga est er g m h o f l ow d an

ith den s w ga r e od bee tn ee r and r t s we flo ith d w ions l e fi vill a ice k r ing p n a t s b re er riv ded a h s

nd ea us ure o lt s’ h en macu r pe

elt se

137

138

homestead vegetation

floodable rice cultivation

agricultural pathways

wet marsh

permeable dam

riparian forest

07 Design implementation

Riverbank zone

‘HER’ LAND

Riverbank zone - 1:5,000 wet marsh and riparian focus okm

100 m

200 m

1 . Wet marsh and riparian buffer zone activity 2 . Riverbank and wetland recreational activity

soft vehicular connection

floodable rice cultivation

3 . Riverbank exchange and economic activity

The Riverbank zone focuses on exhibiting flood resiliency measures. The wetland and riparian construction along with the permeable dam grow permeability of the landscape so the flood waves can slow down, spread, and seep into the ground. Along with the flexibility of moving water, it also provides a habitat for biodiversity.

139

07 Design implementation

Riverbank zone programs g kin oa s as ium to st d m ore g me f da e n n l a i b ari fer e a l ow rip buf rm the f e d p w an slo

for ay n w tio th pa lora d p e t ex va ele tland e w

in ak so s a m er uff ediu b h m ars ing t m urify e w dp an

1. Wet marsh and riparian buffer zone activity

for ay n w th tio pa lora d p e t ex va ele tland e w

n ta en n nd k a m c g le io de ett tat hin fis ting k s vege n a a bo e rb e a d riv est m ho

kin oa ss a r ffe ium bu med h s ar ing t m ify we pur d an

2 . Riverbank and wetland recreational activity

ing ak so m s a u est edi for g m n a in ari fer rip buf d an

140

‘HER’ LAND

g kin oa s as m er uff ediu b et k rsh g m a n m a rk ma rifyin b t r e s we pu riv mer’ d an far

r a te p-w nd e ta de n n e k n m an atio tle tio erb tiv set geta riv e cul k ve an ric e rb e a d riv est m ho

3 . Riverbank exchange and economic activity

141

142

wet marsh

exploration trail

wet marsh

exploration trail

unmanaged wilderness

exploration trail

wet marsh

07 Design implementation

New ecological zone

‘HER’ LAND

New ecological zone 1:5,000 okm

100 m

200 m

1 . Wilderness activity and biodiversity 2 . Swamp forest activity and biodiversity 3 . Ecological waterbody activity and biodiversity

freshwater swamp forest

bird shelter

watch tower

The new ecological zone focuses on exhibiting the proposed wilderness matrix of various forms and quality, celebrating the native ethnobotanical diversity. An elevated pathway leads through the canopy of hilly forest vegetation to the distinctive freshwater swamp forests, passing through the wet marshes, offering different vantage points of view.

143

07 Design implementation

New ecological zone programs

t pla

ati

ess rn lde y i d w hill ge f ing na rs o t lead a s e e m or rail un h lay on t df i t wi etat a te t i o n e r v e g a w l r e o e v plo h t ex watc to

1 . Wilderness activity and biodiversity

kin oa s as m er uff ediu b h m ars ing t m urify e w dp an

ion rat r o l we xp d e c h to n a t g etl wa tin d w g to e res t n i a d v d e ns ele il lea ad sh illio tra v a p

r ion a te e t a t w h veg res e f rest u o q f i un amp er sw to w h tc wa

2 . Swamp forest activity and biodiversity

r l r fo oca l te n d l e a h d s ry bir grato mi

144

ds bir

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nd ta en n m le io g ett tat yin k s vege n arr a c d b er ea als riv est can d m y o r h on ta bu o p t r i te r t wa e sid er nd shelt o p ck du

ng crop sti ho ating d t n po cili re d fa u t l an acu ty rm versi e p di bio

3 . Ecological waterbody activity and biodiversity

acq

cu ua

eck ed os p ur aza ltip t pl mu sof d an

ltu

145

07 Design implementation

Botanical recommendation

Productive vegetation

Cocos nucifera

coconut (60-80 m)

Areca catechu

Mangifera indica

betel-nut palm (32-50 m)

mango (30 m)

Artocarpus heterophyllus jackfruit (20 m)

Canopy layer

Ananas comosus pineapple (2 m)

Echinochloa sp

common grass (1-2 m)

Oryza sativa

rice (0.3-1.8 m)

Shrub layer

146

Vigna mungo lentil (0.3-1 m)

Lens culinaris lentil (0.2-0.3 m)

Brassica n

black musturd

‘HER’ LAND

Litchi chinensis lychee (6-12 m)

Citrus maxima pomelo (5-15 m)

Musa paradisiaca banana (7 m)

Citrus reticulata

Carica papaya

mandarin (7 m)

papaya (6 m)

Understory layer

nigra

(1.2 m)

Coriandrum sativum coriander (0.6 m)

Herbaceous layer

Lathyrus sativus grass pea (0.8 m)

Cucurbita maxima pumpkin (0.3 m)

Ground cover layer

Solanum tuberosum potato (0.6 m)

Allium cepa onion (1 m)

Root layer

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07 Design implementation

Botanical recommendation

Aquatic vegetation

Ficus benghalensis

Alstonia scholaris

banyan (30-40 m)

indian devil (30 m)

Pongamia pinnata karoch (25 m)

Canopy layer

Pharagmites karka common reed (10 m)

Arundo donax giant reed (6 m)

Vetiveria zizaniodes Vetivergrass (5 m)

Shrub layer

148

Saccharum spontanium Kans Grass (4 m)

Nelum

sacred

mbo nucifera

d lotus (2 m)

‘HER’ LAND

Crateva religiosa barun (15 m)

Ficus hispida

opposite leaf fig (15 m)

Barringtonia acutangula hijal (8-15 m)

Understory layer

Hygrophila

swamp weed (0.6 m)

Herbaceous layer

Centella asiatica gotu kola (0.2 m)

Nymphaeaceae water lily (2 m)

Eichhornia crassipes water hyacinth (0.9 m)

Lemnoideae

duckweed (0.002 m)

Floating layer

149

The female-led community transforms the climate victims into climate warriors and celebrates earth care in a very unique way. It is a form of activism to educate people about the way of being sensitive towards land and life, bringing benefits back to the community.

08 EPILOGUE

08 Epilogue

Vision of space : riverbank exchange and sharing

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In the village of ‘Her’ land, a winter morning starts with birds chirping and people chattering. The riverbank gets active with farmers sitting under the

shade with their freshly picked vegetables or handmade crafts for sale while buyers arrive from the distant crossing river by boats.

153

08 Epilogue

Vision of space : community farming

As the sun moves, noon becomes quieter. Children are coming back from school. While some cook meals for the community, some tend the crops and cattles. In between their

154

long hauls, breaks are also necessary. They can always sit together in the nodes of their agricultural trails to laugh and chat across the circle.

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155

08 Epilogue

Vision of space : crop drying and grazing

During the harvest season, on a good sunny day, all spend their noons drying crops. It’s almost like a festival as the smell of new harvest lingers in the air as they sing and dance away their strenuous exertion.

156

While they are preparing the crops, getting ready to save seeds, and reaping for a new season, the cattle are also moved nearby to different grazing locations for their food.

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08 Epilogue

Vision of space : freshwater swamp forest

158

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Afternoons in ‘Her’ land are languid. There are often bird watchers teams and hikers walking to the nearest swamp forest in search of migratory birds coming from Siberia and

the Himalayas. They are never discontented as the new bird sanctuary becomes a breeding and feeding ground for those guest birds.

159

08 Epilogue

Future flood resiliency Existing riverbank scenario

The interventions of ‘Her’ land transform the existing riverbank and adjacent areas gradually by re-enforcing flood resiliency in this highly vulnerable area. The Nature-based flood defenses (canals, wetland,

Winter (November - February)

160

riparian vegetation, and permeable dams) slow the force of the flood and let it inundate the deep water rice cultivation area for a short period as they control and soak the water extent by the end of the monsoon.

‘HER’ LAND

Summer/Autumn (March - May)

Monsoon (June - October)

161

08 Epilogue

Future ecology

Ruddy shelduck

Whistling teals

Pochards

carbon sequestration into soil

162

Snipes

‘HER’ LAND

Bengal florican

Sarus crane

Spoonbill

Sandpipers

intail Common shelduck Common teal

Mallard

Comb duck Moorhen

carbon sequestration into soil

Pink-headed duck

carbon sequestration into soil

Garganey

carbon sequestration into soil

163

08 Epilogue

Manifesto

‘Her’ land manifests a biological laboratory that restores the feminine of the landscape. It grows by responding to organic matter and going with its natural flow rather than objectifying and controlling it.

164

This feminine dimension of space fosters the seed and diversity, providing nourishment to the community and in return, symbolizing women as the creators of ‘social ecosystem’ upholding this legacy.

‘HER’ LAND

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08 Epilogue

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[2] Nuri, M. A. (2021, January 31). Khanar Bachan: Bengali Folklore as a Storehouse of Sustainable Agricultural Wisdom | Nuri | The International Journal of Humanities & Social Studies. Http://Www.Internationaljournalcorner.Com/. http://www.internationaljournalcorner.com/index.php/theijhss/ article/view/157967/109124

[3] P. (2022, January 17). Remembering Chipko Movement: The Women-led Indigenous Struggle. Feminism In India. https://feminisminindia. com/2019/07/11/chipko-movement-indigenous-women-movement/ [4] Shiva, V., Mies, M., Werbner, P., Werbner, R., & Salleh, A. (2014). Ecofeminism (Critique Influence Change) (2nd ed.). Zed Books. [5] Alam, M. S. (2021, June 18). Haor - Banglapedia. Https://En.Banglapedia.Org/. https://en.banglapedia.org/index.php/Haor

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[37] Gaete, J. (2021, December 28). Women’s Opportunity Center / Sharon Davis Design. ArchDaily. https://www.archdaily.com/433846/women-sopportunity-center-sharon-davis-design [38] Bouw, M., & Eekelen, V. E. (2021). Building with Nature: Creating, Implementing and Upscaling Nature-Based Solutions. nai010 publishers.

[39] Asian Development Bank. (2022). Nature-Based Solutions for Flood Risk Management Revitalizing Philippine Rivers to Boost Climate Resilience and Enhance Environmental Sustainability. https://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/publication/774721/revitalizing-philippine-rivers-climateresilience.pdf [40] A. (2012). Why Permaculture Needs Design. Permaculture UK. https://www.permaculture.co.uk/articles/why-permaculture-needs-design

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