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September 12, 2025Open Access

Adaptive Strategies and Livelihood Resilience among Riverine Communities Facing Flood and Erosion Hazards in Assam, India

Key Points

Geographic variations exist in hazard severity and the adaptability of riverine communities, influencing their resilience.
Notable land loss occurred in erosion-prone villages like Jhaoni and Sishuhati, averaging yearly rates of 5–15 meters.
Mixed-method approach involved 453 household surveys, focus groups, and spatial tools to analyze vulnerabilities and adaptive strategies.
Tailored planning is necessary for hazardous regions, as access to resources varies and affects recovery duration from flooding and erosion.

Abstract

Objectives: This study explores flood and erosion vulnerabilities and examines the adaptive strategies and livelihood resilience of riverine communities near Laokhowa–Burhachapori Wildlife Sanctuary, Assam in India. Methods: A mixed-method approach was used, combining long-term data on floods and erosion (2000–2024) with household surveys (n=453), focus group discussions, and interviews with key informants. Villages were selected through stratified sampling across three hazard zones. Spatial tools and comparative tables helped analyze the nature of hazards, social and economic vulnerabilities, local adaptation efforts, and how communities recover. Special attention was given to the differences in resilience strategies from one village to another. Findings: Results indicate notable geographic variations in hazard severity and adaptability potential. Villages vulnerable to erosion such as Jhaoni and Sishuhati experienced a loss of up to 2.15 sq. km of land in 2024, with yearly erosion rates averaging 5–15 meters. Over 70 of households in these regions are marginal landowners with limited access to welfare services. Structural methods such as raised platforms, bamboo fences, and geo-textile barriers are frequently employed, while non-structural tactics include temporary relocation, cultivating quick-maturing crops, livestock farming, and depending on self-help organizations and informal support systems. Access to PMAY, MGNREGA, and early warnings differs between villages and affects recovery duration—spanning from 3 months to more than a year. The research highlights the ways in which micro-level socio-economic, environmental, and institutional factors combine to influence livelihood resilience. These results enhance regional vulnerability indices and underscore the necessity for tailored planning in hazardous regions of Assam Novelty: This study uniquely combines spatial hazard assessment with grassroots adaptation data to offer micro-scale insights into resilience patterns near Assam’s Laokhowa–Burhachapori sanctuary complex. Keywords: Flood, erosion, Adaptive Strategies, Resilience, Recovery

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