How do the perceptions of natural hazards influence migration decisions among ethnic minority farmers? Insights from coastal Bangladesh

In many parts of the world, natural hazards caused by global environmental change is redefining human’s relationship with nature. Ethnic minorities who are often at the margin of the society, in most cases bear the largest scars of those adverse consequences. In Bangladesh, which is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world, the situation is not much different. Despite various hazard exposures and vulnerability, there are very few discussions how ethnic minority farmers are coping with recurring natural hazards in the country. Using the theoretical arguments of social vulnerability to climate change and empirical insights from coastal Bangladesh, this chapter highlights to what extent the perceptions of natural hazards influence the migration decisions among ethnic farmers in coastal Bangladesh. Findings suggest that migration decisions are often complex and influenced by various social, economic, political, and structural aspects, in addition to recurring nature of natural hazards.