1. General information
2. Objectives of the intervention
Goals of the intervention
The intervention was designed to achieve the following goals:
1. To build wider social-ecological resilience by fostering an environment that will enable strong refugee protection. (1)
2. To meet local challenges within the SDG framework through equal prioritisation of ecosystem preservation and human well-being. (1)
3. To implement several environmental restoration activities that address challenges related to flooding and water management. These interventions include stream restoration, riparian afforestation/reforestation, wastewater treatment, water reservoirs, conservation agriculture, silt trap piloting, stream bank protection, construction of walkways, environmental awareness-raising and education. (1)
4. To provide practical solutions to better utilise space in crowded settlements while enabling refugees to produce vegetables, support their own livelihoods and supply a nutritious diet. (3)
5. To mitigate environmental degradation in displacement settings as well as help displaced and host communities prepare and adapt to the foreseeable effects of climate change. (3)
1. To build wider social-ecological resilience by fostering an environment that will enable strong refugee protection. (1)
2. To meet local challenges within the SDG framework through equal prioritisation of ecosystem preservation and human well-being. (1)
3. To implement several environmental restoration activities that address challenges related to flooding and water management. These interventions include stream restoration, riparian afforestation/reforestation, wastewater treatment, water reservoirs, conservation agriculture, silt trap piloting, stream bank protection, construction of walkways, environmental awareness-raising and education. (1)
4. To provide practical solutions to better utilise space in crowded settlements while enabling refugees to produce vegetables, support their own livelihoods and supply a nutritious diet. (3)
5. To mitigate environmental degradation in displacement settings as well as help displaced and host communities prepare and adapt to the foreseeable effects of climate change. (3)
Quantitative targets
1. To plant 144,000 tree seedlings
2. To plant a total of 76 species
3. To provide training to 3,000 Bangladeshis and Rohingya refugees
4. To plant 500 bamboo seedlings
5. To provide benefits to approx. 30,000 people from the intervention
6. To include 11 refugee camps (1, 2)
2. To plant a total of 76 species
3. To provide training to 3,000 Bangladeshis and Rohingya refugees
4. To plant 500 bamboo seedlings
5. To provide benefits to approx. 30,000 people from the intervention
6. To include 11 refugee camps (1, 2)
Monitoring indicators defined
1. Number of saplings planted
2. Number of refugees trained
3. Number of bamboo seedlings planted
4. Number of species selected
5. Number of people benefiting from the action (1,2)
2. Number of refugees trained
3. Number of bamboo seedlings planted
4. Number of species selected
5. Number of people benefiting from the action (1,2)
Sustainability challenge(s) addressed
Climate change adaptation: What were the goals of the NBS?
Climate change adaptation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?
Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What types of conservation goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?
Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?
What types of restoration goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?
What activities are implemented to realize the restoration goals and targets?
Implementation activities
Prior to implementing the intervention, the Centre for Natural Resource Studies (CNRS) and UNHCR conducted a rapid assessment through a field assessment and participatory problem appraisal. The findings from this assessment informed the development of a set of nature-based interventions aimed at restoring the Madhur Chhara watershed. In 2019, UNHCR and CNRS implemented a pilot restoration project which focused on four streams of action: (i) water security/stream restoration, (ii) water pollution management, (iii) stream-bank stabilisation, and (iv) planting/regreening denuded camp areas. To achieve these actions, the project required the support of the refugee community and a skilled team with adequate knowledge of ecological restoration, ecosystem and watershed management, including renowned hydrologists and specialist consultants from both private agencies and line departments of the Government of Bangladesh. A silt trap was established in one of the camps in order to trap sand and silt in situ within a specific part of the stream channel, which enabled periodic extractions of sand/silt for productive purposes such as construction material. Technical assistance was provided by the Environmental Science Department of the University of Chittagong. The project also piloted a bacteria-based wastewater treatment plant in another camp, which was found to effectively remove pollutants from Lambasia Chhara. Afterwards, the project started planting Vetivers (Chrysopogon zizanioides) and various other local grasses such as bhadails (Cyperus rotundus), and broom grass (Thysanolaena latifolia) on banks and slopes, supported by bamboo poles. In 2019, a total of 21,000 tree seedlings were produced from the nursery and in 2020, 288,000 Vetiver saplings were raised and planted. Over the two years, a total of 144,000 tree seedlings were planted on 57.2 hectares of denuded land within the camp. Furthermore, the project provided awareness training to 3,000 refugees and supported 931 households in growing vegetables. An energy and environment technical working group coordinated activities and knowledge sharing across the camps. (1,2)
3. NBS domains, ES and scale
4. Governance and financing
5. Innovation
Type of innovation
Please specify technological innovation
This project has been a product innovation as it has introduced nature-based biological soil stabilization techniques. This meant that the intervention strived at maintaining adequate slope terracing, compacting, and planting Vetivers (Chrysopogon zizanioides) and various other local grasses such as bhadails (Cyperus rotundus), and broom grass (Thysanolaena latifolia) on banks and slopes, supported by bamboo poles. The ‘Asian palm tree’ was also planted as it can replace mechanical and chemical-based lightning arresters, thereby reducing the impact of a lightning strike on people and infrastructure. (1, 3)
Novelty level of the innovation
Please specify novelty level of the innovation
The innovation is completly new and has not been developed in simillar location or conditions. (1,3)
Replicability/Transferability
Please specify Replicability/Transferability
The intervention has been similarly transferred to other camps (11) across the vicinity of Cox's Bazar. (1,2)
6. Evaluation and learning
7. Sources
Please specify other source of non-financial contribution
