This working paper presents an overview of environmental changes in rural society over the past four decades and how villagers perceive these changes. The study finds that local people understand environmental change through their own experiences, particularly those changes that directly affect their everyday lives. In this ethnographic research, the everyday experiences of local people become significant in the epistemic discussions on environment and climate change. Based on the daily observations of local residents, the study highlights environmental changes and their impacts on people’s lives in different contexts. The research reveals both positive and negative aspects of these changes. From the perceptions of local people, it appears that environmental change is shaped by an interplay of multiple natural and human-induced factors. These changes are not limited to climatic variations alone; they are also related to agriculture, land use, and the realities of the market economy at the local level. Environmental changes influence various economic, social, and cultural aspects of life, while these factors in turn also contribute to environmental change. Understanding this complex interaction of change can provide a deeper reading of environmental transformations and may help broaden the path for policy decision-making in this area.
Authors: Shatil, Tanvir; Kamal, Rohini
Type: Working Paper
Year: 2025
