Collective Climate Action COMMUNITY RESPONSES TO FLOODING IN THABAUNG TOWNSHIP IN THE AYEYARWADY DELTA, MYANMAR Marijn Kers MASTER THESIS | INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT STUDIES COLLECTIVE CLIMATE ACTION A bottom-up approach to the impact and consequences of flooding on the livelihoods and the collective response of communities to deal with flooding, in Thabaung township in the Ayeyarwady division of Myanmar. Author: Marijn Kers Contact: [email protected] Date: June 2021 Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Annelies Zoomers Thesis Msc. International Development Department of Human Geography Faculty of Geosciences Utrecht University The Netherlands 1 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The support and guidance I have received over the course of two years, from the start to finish of the research has meant a lot. Along the way, the learning curve has been steep and the process somewhat longer than expected. I am grateful for the opportunities that made the research possible, and the hospitality of the research participants who are key in this thesis. In particular, I would like to thank my supervisor, prof. dr. Annelies Zoomers, for asking the right questions, guiding me in the right direction and support throughout the process. Secondly, I would like to thank U Win Myo Thu and Sonia Leonard of ALARM Myanmar, for their time, knowledge and encouragement. Thank you, Si Thu Htun of ALARM Myanmar, and Stephen Saw for being the most helpful interpreters during the fieldwork. Most of all, I am grateful for Team Myanmar. My research partner Sarah Kalin, and Georgina Duke and Sanne Gerritse, for always being there. With each our own perspectives and knowledge, we were an impeccable team in managing the (cultural) landscape of Myanmar. Your support, open-mindedness, and being there for each other in times of hardship and joy, made me fully believe in our own capabilities. I am really grateful to have had you all by my side. In addition I would like to thank Stefanie de Boer, Gert Dokter, Vera Hollander, Anna Verkuil and my family for their support. 2 ABSTRACT Extreme weather events are occurring more frequently, influenced by climate change. One of the most vulnerable countries to climate change is Myanmar, in Southeast Asia. Adaptation to climate change is important for the socio-economic developments of the country. The political climate in Myanmar is dynamic, and has shifted from military rule to a quasi-civilian government over the course of ten years. The increasing level and amount of flooding has been pressuring Myanmar for the last twenty years, especially in the Ayeyarwady delta. Devastating natural disasters as cyclone Nargis (2008) and Komen (2015) have highlighted the capabilities of communities themselves, in organizing a response. Literature emphasizes the importance of social capital and collective action, in adapting to a changing climate. As communities in the Ayeyarwady delta are increasingly exposed to natural hazards, how does it affect their livelihoods and community? This master thesis is a bottom-up approach to researching the subject of collective action in relation to climate change. It will give insights on how communities deal with the direct and indirect consequences of flooding, when exposed over an extended period of time. The fieldwork is conducted in March 2019, and is reflective of that time period. 3 INDEX Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................................. 2 Abstract ................................................................................................................................................... 3 Chapter 1: Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 7 §1.1 Research objectives ................................................................................................................. 9 Chapter 2: Theoretical and conceptual framework .............................................................................. 10 §2.1 Climate change and natural disasters ................................................................................... 10 §2.2 Defining collective action ...................................................................................................... 10 §2.3 Conceptual framework .......................................................................................................... 12 Chapter 3: Research design ................................................................................................................... 13 §3.1 Research question ................................................................................................................. 13 §3.2 Selection of research sites ..................................................................................................... 13 §3.3 Actor mapping ....................................................................................................................... 14 §3.4 Walkalong interviews ............................................................................................................ 15 §3.5 Focus group discussions ........................................................................................................ 16 §3.6 Data summary ....................................................................................................................... 17 §3.7 Limitations ............................................................................................................................. 17 Chapter 4: Introducing Myanmar .......................................................................................................... 19 §4.1 Controlled transition ............................................................................................................. 19 §4.2 NLD Government and Rakhine crisis ..................................................................................... 19 §4.3 Development assistance ........................................................................................................ 20 §4.4 Public administration and policy ........................................................................................... 21 Environmental vulnerabilities in the Ayeyarwady delta ....................................................................... 22 §4.5 Ayeyarwady river basin ......................................................................................................... 22 §4.6 Nargis’ impact on the Ayeyarwady delta .............................................................................. 24 §4.7 Monsoon season 2015 .......................................................................................................... 25 §4.8 Foreign aid and discrimination .............................................................................................. 27 Chapter 5: Findings and analysis ........................................................................................................... 28 §5.1 Demographic composition Thabaung township ................................................................... 28 Chapter 5: Impact of flooding on livelihoods ........................................................................................ 31 §5.2 Livelihoods ............................................................................................................................. 31 §5.3 Fishing tenure system ............................................................................................................ 31 §5.4 Flood displacement ............................................................................................................... 33 4 §5.5 Farming .................................................................................................................................. 34 §5.6 Summer paddy cultivation and mechanization ..................................................................... 36 §5.7 Monsoon paddy cultivation ................................................................................................... 36 §5.8 Late monsoon withdrawal and flooding ................................................................................ 37 §5.9 Secondary sources of income ................................................................................................ 38 §5.10 Temporary migration........................................................................................................... 39 §5.11 Flooding affecting livelihoods .............................................................................................. 40 Chapter 6: Adjusting livelihoods............................................................................................................ 42 §6.1 Income diversification ........................................................................................................... 42 §6.2 Flood displacement ............................................................................................................... 42 §6.3 Temporary migration ............................................................................................................. 44 §6.4 Debt ....................................................................................................................................... 44 §6.5 Housing .................................................................................................................................. 45 §6.6 Cultural and religious events