Physiography, Forests, and People in Teknaf

The Teknaf peninsula, which is located in the farthest southeastern corner of Bangladesh, has a diversified physiography exhibiting hills, piedmont plains, tidal floodplains, and beaches. The climate is subtropical, with temperatures ranging seasonally from 15 °C during the winter to 33 °C during the summer and very heavy rainfall (about 4000 mm). The peninsula, which experiences frequent cyclones, is vulnerable to climate change. More than 30% of the area consists of forests that are highly degraded as a result of various human activities as well as climate change such as frequent cyclone. Poverty is one of the major issues in the peninsula, with approximately 38% of the population living below the poverty line. Livelihoods center on agriculture, forest-related activities, and collection of marine resources. Although human settlements have existed in this area from ancient times, after 1990, extensive settlement has occurred in and around the forests. Apart from Bengalis, other ethnic groups living in the peninsula include the Chakma, Rakhine, and Rohingya groups.