Floods in Bangladesh: History, Dynamics and Rethinking the Role of the Himalayas by Thomas Hofer, Bruno Messerli

From the Publisher

Is it really true that deforestation and the land use practices of the Himalayan farmers are to blame for the recurring and devastating monsoon floods in the plains of the Ganga and Brahmaputra? Massive floods have occurred regularly there and the frequency did not change during the 20th century. But since 1950 the flooding has varied more from year to year and large floods have become larger. This book relates these changes to similar trends in rainfall and discharge patterns and presents new evidence to debunk the myth that deforestation creates big floods and that mountain dwellers are to blame for flood catastrophes.

The authors use data from a research project on floods in Bangladesh in the context of highland-lowland linkages, to show how floods in Bangladesh are caused by a combination of simultaneous discharges from the big rivers, high runoff from the Meghalaya Hills, heavy rainfall, high groundwater tables and spring tides. Lateral river embankments and the disappearance of natural water storage areas in the lowlands seem to have a significant impact on the flooding processes. The book notes that politicians and engineers often cite monsoon floods as the main problem for Bangladesh but that flood-affected people are more concerned with lateral river erosion, landlessness and economic survival problems.

About the Author:
Thomas Hofer is a mountain expert in the UN Food and Agriculture, Organization in Rome, Italy

About the Author:
Bruno Messerli is professor emeritus and former Director of the Institute of Geography and Rector, University of Bern, Switzerland

Product Details

• Table of Contents

Table of Contents