Ecological restoration in Rohingya refugee camps

Creation of new green areas, Ecological restoration of ecosystems, Knowledge creation and awareness raising

The intervention was designed to achieve the following goals: 1. To build wider social-ecological resilience by fostering an environment that will enable strong refugee protection. (1) 2. To meet local challenges within the SDG framework through equal prioritisation of ecosystem preservation and human well-being. (1) 3. To implement several environmental restoration activities that address challenges related to flooding and water management. These interventions include stream restoration, riparian afforestation/reforestation, wastewater treatment, water reservoirs, conservation agriculture, silt trap piloting, stream bank protection, construction of walkways, environmental awareness-raising and education. (1) 4. To provide practical solutions to better utilise space in crowded settlements while enabling refugees to produce vegetables, support their own livelihoods and supply a nutritious diet. (3) 5. To mitigate environmental degradation in displacement settings as well as help displaced and host communities prepare and adapt to the foreseeable effects of climate change. (3)

Prior to implementing the intervention, the Centre for Natural Resource Studies (CNRS) and UNHCR conducted a rapid assessment through a field assessment and participatory problem appraisal. The findings from this assessment informed the development of a set of nature-based interventions aimed at restoring the Madhur Chhara watershed. In 2019, UNHCR and CNRS implemented a pilot restoration project which focused on four streams of action: (i) water security/stream restoration, (ii) water pollution management, (iii) stream-bank stabilisation, and (iv) planting/regreening denuded camp areas. To achieve these actions, the project required the support of the refugee community and a skilled team with adequate knowledge of ecological restoration, ecosystem and watershed management, including renowned hydrologists and specialist consultants from both private agencies and line departments of the Government of Bangladesh. A silt trap was established in one of the camps in order to trap sand and silt in situ within a specific part of the stream channel, which enabled periodic extractions of sand/silt for productive purposes such as construction material. Technical assistance was provided by the Environmental Science Department of the University of Chittagong. The project also piloted a bacteria-based wastewater treatment plant in another camp, which was found to effectively remove pollutants from Lambasia Chhara. Afterwards, the project started planting Vetivers (Chrysopogon zizanioides) and various other local grasses such as bhadails (Cyperus rotundus), and broom grass (Thysanolaena latifolia) on banks and slopes, supported by bamboo poles. In 2019, a total of 21,000 tree seedlings were produced from the nursery and in 2020, 288,000 Vetiver saplings were raised and planted. Over the two years, a total of 144,000 tree seedlings were planted on 57.2 hectares of denuded land within the camp. Furthermore, the project provided awareness training to 3,000 refugees and supported 931 households in growing vegetables. An energy and environment technical working group coordinated activities and knowledge sharing across the camps. (1,2)

• Local government/Municipality
• Citizens or community groups
• Marginalized groups: Refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants, Socio-economically disadvantaged populations (e.g. low-income households, unemployed)