GovTwin / Institution
Lama (Bandarban)
Local Gov
A southern Bandarban upazila where jhum, plantation expansion and timber pressure converge on steep, forested hills.
Wealth rank 19/452
(1 = poorest upazila)
Indicators: Meta RWI (HDX); ERA5-Land; MODIS; Sentinel-5P; VIIRS night-lights; GHSL; Hansen v1.11; CHIRPS v2.0. Exposure: GloFAS v2.1, FABDEM, MODIS LST, ACAG PM2.5, WorldPop 2020.
Problems and issues
- environment Lama is exposed to the district's intense deforestation, with tree-cover loss driven by jhum expansion, plantation conversion (including rubber and fruit) and timber extraction. So what: Forest loss on steep slopes accelerates erosion and landslide risk. Source: Bangladesh Forest Department
- climate disaster High rainfall on the upazila's steep slopes, amplified by district warming, produces destructive flash floods and landslides. So what: Landslides and flash floods threaten lives, homes and hill farms. Source: Department of Disaster Management
- poverty Lama's RWI mean of -0.379 places it in the poorest wealth decile among upazilas nationally, reflecting subsistence hill livelihoods and remoteness. So what: Deep poverty limits the means to adopt safer, sustainable land use. Source: Meta Data for Good Relative Wealth Index (HDX)
Probable solutions
- Protect remaining montane forest and convert open jhum on steep slopes to permanent agroforestry and contour cultivation Responsible: Bangladesh Forest Department · policy proposal
- Landslide and flash-flood early-warning with hazard mapping and pre-monsoon evacuation planning Responsible: Department of Disaster Management · policy proposal