Is Refugee Flux Declining Forest Areas and Degrading Global Climate? – A Case Study In

Abstract

Refugee migration is one of the main problems in the current world that directly and indirectly exacerbates the global climate change issue. The Rohingya refugee crisis in Bangladesh, particularly in the south zone of Cox's Bazar, is a critical condition. Since August 25, 2017, the influx of refugees from Myanmar to this region has become the fastest and densest in the world. As a result of the Rohingya influx in the first three months, approximately 1619 hectares of land covered with reserved and 15-year-old social forests have been cleared in Cox's Bazar for fuelwood supply and building temporary shelters. In light of this situation, we have outlined three scenarios along with possible solutions. This article aims to identify and comprehend three types of vulnerable impacts that might arise from the deforestation situation in these areas: environmental impacts (carbon loss and impact on biodiversity), economic impacts (loss of earnings from forest products, e.g., carbon loss), and social impacts (competition between local people and Rohingyas in fuel, food, water, and shelter).This article provides clear information about the deforestation and environmental degradation situation in the South Forest Zone of Bangladesh. Furthermore, it identifies carbon loss and estimates future environmental impacts, connecting them to a global perspective to illustrate how local environmental degradation can have global implications.