Understanding the dynamics of land use and land cover (LULC) change in today’s context of rapid urbanization is critical for sustainable urban planning and environmental conservation. Therefore, the research aim is to understand the LULC changes in the Chattogram Metropolitan Area and to assess the policy implications of these changes for sustainable urban development. Through a comparative analysis of LULC maps for two periods (1997–2007; 2007–2017), we investigated the transformation of a detailed planning zone before and after Detailed Area Plan (DAP) approval. Using quantitative data analysis and policy review, we elucidated the impacts of urbanization trends on local ecosystems—specifically the conversion of forest cover and waterscape use. The findings reveal a significant conversion of forested and waterscape areas to urban and peri-urban landscapes, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable planning interventions that focus on these peri-urban areas. The study further critiques the DAP’s effectiveness, revealing a disconnect between regional policy implementation and local outcomes. This research proposes a validated, scalable framework for urban master plans that adapts to the complex socioecological contexts of rapidly urbanizing regions. @en

Ancient settlements were dependent on the availability of water for sustainable living, ritual values, and economic purposes. Today, many Tropical Asian cities provide examples of urban settlements within water landscapes, yet these cities struggle with water issues, and face challenges in creating a contextual morphological identity. This paper explores urban waterfront heritage through a case study of Chittagong, Bangladesh. The city is experiencing rapid unplanned urbanisation, insensitive land use and the demolition of historical buildings along waterways, which in turn has created a contextual crisis in the built environment and social living. To explore the relationship of built heritage with the water-edge, this paper examines historical architectural styles using urban morphological codes. Results show that the historical orientations, accessibility, and functions of heritage buildings are explicitly and sensitively connected with the water-edge. The paper argues that physical and spatial components of urban structure and water landscape, incorporating the lessons of urban history, could become a tool to preserve urban heritage. However, to enhance the image of the city in a sustainable manner along water-edges, it is crucial to use the potentiality of water landscape with the heritage-based morphologies in current urban design and development practices.@en

Buffer zone (BZ) concept has emerged to minimize degradation of natural resources and enhance balanced land use planning for the areas where existing urban and peri-urban landscapes are threatened by rapid land use change. The primary aim of the study is to seek a better understanding of land use planning and governance in BZ surrounding the core zone of the Chittagong Metropolitan Area. Through questionnaires and interviews, the study also identified the key stakeholders’ inclination and influence on land use decisions, i.e., preservation versus urbanization of the BZ. Then, the national and international policies of BZ management were reviewed to check the overall validity and credibility of the analytical results. The results revealed that the respondents in the responsible authorities have demonstrated a positive inclination to urbanization rather than preservation of BZ, whereas non-governmental organizations, practitioners, and academics have supported preservation rather than urbanization. In addition, the study also reported the conflict in interagency and multi-level coordination for urban development. In the national level, core zone development gains more support by containing ‘strategic open space’ and ‘no development zone.’ However, it contradicts the regional plan which allows the reduction of green coverage from 46.20 to 32.56%. Therefore, to achieve BZ management practices in a consistent and sustainable manner, overcoming knowledge and inclination gap, as well as effective coordination of land use governance, is critical.@en