Migration Impacts on

Environment: A Case of
Rohingya Influx in Ukhia
Upazila, Cox’s Bazar

Md. Sahadat Hossain, Abdullah Al Nayeem, Prof. Dr. Ahmad Kamruzzaman Majumder

Department of Environmental Science, Stamford University Bangladesh

Dhaka 1209, Bangladesh

Presented by : Abdullah Al Nayeem

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 Introduction

• Human society and forests influence each other in both

positive and negative ways
• Total required forest cover 25 %, however available 9%
(FAO), 10 % (UNESCO) cover
• Deforestation (accounts for 15% of all global greenhouse
gas emissions) include conversion of forestland to farms,
human settlement, urban use, industrialization
 Introduction
• Since the 1970s, more than one million Rohingya have fled
to neighboring Bangladesh, as well as Malaysia, Thailand
and other Southeast Asian countries.
• As of 21 November, an estimated 6,22,000 Rohingya
refugees fled Myanmar to Bangladesh.

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 Introduction
2017 Scenario
• The Rohingya influx—August 25, 2017
• Cox’s Bazar is mainly affected area
• Hill forest destroying for the Rohingya settlement.
• Water, soil and air pollution for this migration.
• The pressure on the land is creating another conflict, this time
environmental rather than ethnic

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 Covered Area

Ukhia
Upazila

Palongkhali Balukhali Thaingkhali Kutupalong

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 Study Area

• Ukhia Upazila, Cox’s Bazar District of

Bangladesh.
• Located in between 21°17` N and
92°06` E.
• Area covers 261.8 sq km
• Main sources of income: Agriculture
54.40%

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Methodology

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Results and Discussion

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 Results and Discussion

January 10, November 26,

2017 2017 % Change
311.24 267.99
Vegetation (65.49%) (56.39%) -9.10
164.01 207.26
Bare Soil (34.51%) (43.61%) 9.10

Total 475.25 (100%) 475.25 (100%) 0.00

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 Impacts on Local Aspects

Air &
water

Sanitati Local
on labor
Local
Socio-
economic
Aspects
Educati
Gender
on

Health

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 Possible Solution

Humanitarian and Legal security

Proper infrastructure

Participation of local communities

Bilateral Cooperation with Myanmar government

International Cooperation

Ensuring repatriation process

Relief operations

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 Need to be concern

• GoB aimed to achieve 20% of land under forest cover

by the year 2015 (Forest Policy, 1994)
• SDG Goal 15: Sustainably manage forests, combat
desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt
biodiversity loss
• By 2020, sustainable management of all types of
forests, halt deforestation
• By 2030, combat desertification
• By 2030, ensure the conservation of mountain
ecosystems,
• Climate Change : (Deforestation accounts for 15% of all
global greenhouse gas emissions).

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 Future Study

Field
Study

Social
Condition

Economic
Condition

Gender
Discrimina
tion

Vulnerability
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 Conclusion
Conclusions

Save the Forest for Better Environment and Achieving the

Sustainable Development Goals

This slide is made possible by the support of American people through the United States Agency for
International Development (USAID). The contents are the sole responsibility of the presenter and do
not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States government. 14
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