This project, executed by Bangladesh’s Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) and implemented by UNDP, has reached 18,269 households engaging citizens in afforestation, agriculture, livestock, and fishery-based livelihood adaptation and training measures. The project promotes the diversification of livelihoods and income generation, for example, through the rational use of coastal land to produce forest, fruit and fish resources.

The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) of Bangladesh won the Earth Care Award 2012 (sponsored by the Times of India) for spearheading the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) project “Community Based Adaptation to Climate Change through Coastal Afforestation in Bangladesh”. This year’s Earth Care Awards category was "Community-based adaptation and mitigation".

This project was also recipient of an award in the knowledge competition of the Fifth International Conference on Community Based Adaptation (CBA5), held at Dhaka, Bangledesh, from 26-31 March 2011.

One of the significant adaptation response measures used is the development of FFF (Forest-Fish-Fruit) Model, a mound-ditch model that comprises short and long term resource and income generation, as well as livelihood diversification. This model is used in barren lands, located behind coastal mangrove forests. By using a combination of protective and productive vegetation, mound and ditch land structures, the FFF model has prevented land encroachment and ensured water security through rain water harvesting in ditches. It offers multiple livelihood opportunities such as fish cultivation, irrigation for crops, and conversion of barren land into productive land. This model accommodates families in the community with at least US $1,000 additional income/beneficiary/year.

For more information, view the Community based Adaptation to Climate Change Through Costal Afforestation Project Website.