Hydrological characterization and social dynamics of polders in the Bengal Delta [Abstract only]
Polders in the floodplains of the Ganges-Brahmaputra delta in Bangladesh play a critical role in supporting intensive agricultural production and the livelihoods of around eight million people. Polderization is promoted to reduce environmental vulnerabilities against flood inundation, coastal erosion, and salinity intrusion. These land areas are low-lying islands consisting mainly of alluvial sediment deposits, and almost half (~1.2 million ha) of the coastal zone in the region is polderized.