Bangladesh, July 22 -- For generations, golpata collection has sustained thousands of families living along the Sundarbans. But rising operating costs, shrinking harvesting periods, poor market prices and recurring climate disasters have turned the traditional livelihood into a painful struggle for survival.

Nearly 50,000 forest-dependent families in Bangladesh's Sundarbans Impact Zone rely directly or indirectly on golpata, or Nypa fruticans, as a major source of seasonal income.

Known locally as bawalis, the collectors harvest golpata leaves and sap mainly during the dry season, from January to March. During the rest of the year, they depend on agriculture, fishing, day labour or shrimp-fry collection to support their families.

Golp...