Beyond economics: The multitude of benefits from ecosystem services in the Meghna river basin

Abstract

The Meghna River basin (MRB) is a prime example of a complex ecosystem that provides a multitude of services to the local communities and beyond. The purpose of this research is to explore the ecosystem services and the factors that influence changes in the MRB by utilizing the Common International Classification of Ecosystem Services framework. The study involved a combination of primary fieldwork in the MRB and secondary data. Community perceptions were additionally gathered via consultations with local resource users in order to understand their usage of ecosystem services and how they perceived the changes in these services over time. The study identified a total of 30 subcategories of ecosystem services by combining both quantitative and qualitative data. These subcategories included twelve types of provisioning services, eight cultural services, and ten regulating services. The study also found that many of these ecosystem services are at risk, which is due to various drivers of change that have negative impacts on the provision of ecosystem services and pose significant threats on the well-being of the local communities. Overexploitation, illegal fishing, increasing fishing pressure, the lack of alternative job opportunities, land use changes, and the non-compliance of fishing laws are notable among them. The present study highlights the need for a holistic approach towards managing the ecosystem services of the MRB, which is based on these findings. This approach should prioritize the sustainable use of these services in order to ensure that they provide long-term benefits to the local communities. This study recommends implementing policy interventions that support sustainable land use practices, biodiversity conservation, and ecosystem-based natural resource management in order to achieve this. This study additionally emphasizes the importance of engaging local communities in regards to decision-making processes in order to incorporate their needs and perspectives into the management of ecosystem services.