The Adverse Impact of Ecosystem Degradation and Poor Governance on Marginalized People

Bangladesh has been achieving remarkable success in economic growth in the last two decades. Does this economic success bring a sustainable and positive result for marginalized people? This study aims to investigate whether the local economic activity positively changes their socioeconomic position. The study reveals that cropland lost on an average of 0.2636 Bigha per household and disappeared 2.59 local fish species in local water bodies. Moreover, more than three-fourth respondents perceived that their access to local ecosystem services is decreasing and the services are degraded. However, more than half of the respondents paid $6.82 each time as a bribe in accessing to local ecosystem services. Combine of these issues is negatively influencing their income, employment opportunity, and household expenditure so that the marginal community becomes more marginalized and wealthier become wealthier. This study may help to find out a new trajectory of sustainable economic activity in the coastal areas with reducing ecosystem services degradation and vulnerability of marginalized people