A Qualitative Assessment of Natural and Anthropogenic Drivers of Risk to Sustainable Livelihoods in the Indian Sundarban

In the Indian Sundarban, multiple attributes and interactions of natural hazards, exposure, vulnerability pose severe threats to lives livelihoods. Understanding cause-and-effect relationships contributing risk loss sustainable livelihoods has become imperative but not yet been holistically explored in a single study that provides broader picture all possible complex interactions. This used impact chain tool understand manifests as result vulnerability. The secondary literature authors’ observations helped us structure first draft chain, which was further developed validated through fourteen gender-disaggregated interviews with key informants delta dwellers. validation process identified interconnections experienced by experts dwellers, is seldom reflected exclusively quantitative data. A analysis qualitative data strongly indicated tropical cyclones, rainfall variability, storms are dominant hazards affect social–ecological manifested mangrove degradation, land due erosion, embankment breaching. Social caused processes factors either directly or indirectly influenced factors. Processes such increasing seasonal male migration, uncertain agricultural income, lack hazard-resistant housing exacerbates social Embankment breaching, salinization water, conversion, groundwater abstraction were fundamental can lead people if left unaddressed.