Climate change–induced livelihood shifts and adaptation strategies among the Oraon Indigenous community in Northern Bangladesh

Sobur Hossain, Md; Tasnim, Nishat; Zahidul Islam, Md

doi:10.22059/jcountst.2026.417135.1582

Climate change–induced livelihood shifts and adaptation strategies among the Oraon Indigenous community in Northern Bangladesh

Document Type : Original

Authors

Md Sobur Hossain ¹

Nishat Tasnim ¹

Md Zahidul Islam ²

¹ Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur, Bangladesh.

² Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

10.22059/jcountst.2026.417135.1582

Abstract

Indigenous communities are undergoing significant transformations in their traditional ways of life, making them more socio-economically and environmentally vulnerable than non-Indigenous populations. However, climate change–induced livelihood transitions and adaptation strategies among plainland Indigenous groups in Bangladesh, particularly in Rangpur, remain underexplored. This study explores the climate change–induced livelihood shifts and adaptation strategies of the Oraon Indigenous community, focusing on the impacts of climate change on their livelihood systems and survival strategies. Adopting an exploratory qualitative research design, we conducted 15 in-depth interviews with members of the Oraon Indigenous community aged over 30 years. The data were thematically analyzed using Braun and Clarke's (2006) six-phase thematic analysis framework. The findings reveal that climate change has reduced the availability of fish, forest resources, and medicinal plants, leading to reduce food diversity, reduced income opportunities, and the erosion of traditional healing practices. To cope with the impacts, the Oraon indigenous community members have adopted several adaptive strategies, including a transition to modern agricultural practices, increased participation of women in small-scale economic activities, changes in animal husbandry patterns, growing reliance on modern healthcare systems, and selective livelihood migration to urban areas, which indicate both adaptive capacity and increasing socio-economic vulnerability. The findings highlight the importance of culturally responsive and locally-driven adaptation measures to boost the resilience of Indigenous communities in Bangladesh by enhancing their ecosystem services, sustainable livelihoods, preserving indigenous knowledge and culture, and implementing gender-responsive planning.

Keywords

adaptation strategies

climate change

Oraon Indigenous community

socio-economic vulnerability

Subjects

multidisciplinary

Scope: Northern Bangladesh

حوزة موضوعی: شمال بنگلادش

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