scholarly journals Innovative practices for the promotion of local/indigenous knowledge for disaster risk reduction management in Sudur Paschim Province, Nepal

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kabi Prasad Pokhrel ◽  
Shambhu Prasad Khatiwada ◽  
Narayan Prasad Paudel ◽  
Keshav Raj Dhakal ◽  
Chhabilal Chidi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Educational Policy ◽  
Indigenous Knowledge ◽  
Risk Reduction ◽  
Natural Hazards ◽  
Disaster Risk Reduction ◽  
Evaluation Method ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Disaster Risk

This study is an attempt to point out the variety of natural hazards, such as landslides, droughts, soil erosion, earthquakes, lightening and floods in Sudur Paschim province of Nepal which are exacerbated by environmental degradation processes such as deforestation, desertification, biodiversity loss, soil crisp and watershed degradation. The study was  carried out using participatory approach and process for collecting information, established methods and techniques to identify the hazard prone area with type and intensity  and multi criteria evaluation method to prioritize replicable actions with   location -specific innovative practices and their  legitimization  for integrating local and indigenous knowledge into  science and technology through educational policy and assessment to incorporate local and indigenous knowledge as live science in disaster and climate change education. Findings of the study reveal that varieties of natural hazards in combination with social factors such as poverty, conflict and inequality and these events and processes result in frequent disasters. When threatened by a hazard, indigenous communities respond by making use of all this knowledge and practices, which has evolved over generations, and continue to adapt to future changes. However, these traditional, often faith-based, beliefs and practices are embedded in their day-today lives are key to their resilience in the face of natural hazards. Many communities are concerned that this knowledge might be lost as the elderly die without transferring it to younger members of the community due to lack of proper educational policy and strategic development plans and have not properly addressed natural hazards and socio-economic vulnerability by coping local/indigenous knowledge into practices. Indigenous and traditional knowledge is a precious national resource that can support the process of disaster prevention, preparedness and response in cost-effective disaster risk reduction. Asa suggestive measures, ,findings of the study forwarded  some policy issues in the context of disaster risk reduction local practices and their need to integrate mainstreaming educational programs with producing tools for integrating local and indigenous knowledge with science; and develop information, education and communication that promote local/ indigenous knowledge for the multi hazard risk reduction and climate change adaptation in mostly vulnerable locations of Sudur Paschim Province, Nepal. 

scholarly journals Facilitating Sustainable Disaster Risk Reduction in Indigenous Communities: Reviving Indigenous Worldviews, Knowledge and Practices through Two-Way Partnering

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 855
Author(s):  
Tahir Ali ◽  
Petra Topaz Buergelt ◽  
Douglas Paton ◽  
James Arnold Smith ◽  
Elaine Lawurrpa Maypilama ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Grounded Theory ◽  
Risk Reduction ◽  
Indigenous People ◽  
Natural Hazards ◽  
Disaster Risk Reduction ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Disaster Risk ◽  
Indigenous Research ◽  
Ecological Knowledge ◽  
Community Members

The Sendai Framework of Action 2015–2030 calls for holistic Indigenous disaster risk reduction (DRR) research. Responding to this call, we synergized a holistic philosophical framework (comprising ecological systems theory, symbolic interactionism, and intersectionality) and social constructionist grounded theory and ethnography within a critical Indigenous research paradigm as a methodology for exploring how diverse individual and contextual factors influence DRR in a remote Indigenous community called Galiwinku, in the Northern Territory of Australia. Working together, Indigenous and non-Indigenous researchers collected stories in local languages using conversations and yarning circles with 20 community members, as well as participant observations. The stories were interpreted and analysed using social constructivist grounded theory analysis techniques. The findings were dialogued with over 50 community members. The findings deeply resonated with the community members, validating the trustworthiness and relevance of the findings. The grounded theory that emerged identified two themes. First, local Indigenous knowledge and practices strengthen Indigenous people and reduce the risks posed by natural hazards. More specifically, deep reciprocal relationships with country and ecological knowledge, strong kinship relations, Elder’s wisdom and authority, women and men sharing power, and faith in a supreme power/God and Indigenous-led community organizations enable DRR. Second, colonizing practices weaken Indigenous people and increase the risks from natural hazards. Therefore, colonization, the imposition of Western culture, the government application of top-down approaches, infiltration in Indigenous governance systems, the use of fly-in/fly-out workers, scarcity of employment, restrictions on technical and higher education opportunities, and overcrowded housing that is culturally and climatically unsuitable undermine the DRR capability. Based on the findings, we propose a Community-Based DRR theory which proposes that facilitating sustainable Indigenous DRR in Australian Indigenous communities requires Indigenous and non-Indigenous partners to genuinely work together in two-directional and complementary ways.

scholarly journals Indigenous knowledge for disaster risk reduction: An African perspective

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nnamdi G. Iloka
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Indigenous Knowledge ◽  
Risk Reduction ◽  
Disaster Risk Reduction ◽  
Disaster Risk ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Local People ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Future Challenges

Indigenous knowledge is valuable knowledge that has helped local communities all over the world survive for generations. This knowledge originates from the interaction between members of the community and the environment in which they live. Although much has been written about indigenous knowledge, its documentation in the area of disaster risk reduction and climate change in Africa has been very limited. The wealth of this knowledge has not been well-recognised in the disaster risk reduction field, as policy-makers still rely on mitigation strategies based on scientific knowledge. Colonialism and lack of proper documentation of indigenous knowledge are some of the contributing factors to this. Ignoring the importance of understanding adaptive strategies of the local people has led to failed projects. Understanding how local people in Africa have managed to survive and adapt for generations, before the arrival of Western education, may be the key to developing sustainable policies to mitigate future challenges. Literature used in this article, obtained from the books, papers and publications of various experts in the fields of disaster risk reduction, climate change, indigenous knowledge and adaptation, highlight the need for more interest to be shown in indigenous knowledge, especially in the developing country context. This would lead to better strategies which originate from the community level but would aim for overall sustainable development in Africa.

scholarly journals The Integration of Indigenous Knowledge for Disaster Risk Reduction Practices through Scientific Knowledge: Cases from Mentawai Islands, Indonesia

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Zulfadrim Zulfadrim ◽  
Yusuke Toyoda ◽  
Hidehiko Kanegae
Keyword(s):  
Indigenous Knowledge ◽  
Risk Reduction ◽  
Scientific Knowledge ◽  
Disaster Risk Reduction ◽  
Modern Science ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Disaster Risk ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Mentawai Islands

This study explores the importance of indigenous knowledge for everyday practices of disaster risk reduction and response. Many existing studies have highlighted the need to integrate such knowledge with modern science. Based on ethnographic research in indigenous communities in the Mentawai Islands of Indonesia, this study explores the categorization of indigenous knowledge in the integration process. To that end, primary data were collected through in-depth interviews while secondary data were collected from relevant documents, including books, articles, websites and government and NGO reports. The findings indicate that indigenous knowledge is acquired through long observation and interaction with disasters. Although some of this knowledge is based on successes in other localities, some indigenous knowledge is completely local, homogenous and shared among community members. It was also established that indigenous knowledge can be meaningfully organized into a number of categories, and that indigenous knowledge of a technical nature is more likely to be integrated with scientific knowledge. The research was exploratory and approached indigenous knowledge issues from the point of view of indigenous communities themselves. This approach should be replicated and expanded in other indigenous communities.

scholarly journals Natural hazards and climate change are not drivers of disasters

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alik Ismail-Zadeh
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Risk Reduction ◽  
Natural Hazards ◽  
Extreme Events ◽  
Disaster Risk Reduction ◽  
Natural Hazard ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Disaster Risk ◽  
Time Dependent

AbstractMany nations face challenges in assessing, understanding, and responding to the time-dependent nature of disaster risk. Changes in the intensity of occurrences of extreme events coupled with changes in vulnerability and exposure alter the impacts of natural hazards on society in mostly negative ways. Here an interrelationship between natural hazard (NH), climate change (CC), vulnerability (V), exposure (E), and decisionmaking (DM) is considered. While NHs trigger disasters and CC is likely to intensify occurrences of disasters, V and E present major drivers of disasters. Informed DM on disaster risk reduction should be based on scientific evidence from NH and CC, knowledge of V and E, and relevant options for actions on preventive disaster measures as a part of preparedness and public awareness.

Indigenous knowledge and disaster risk reduction

Geography ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 97 (1) ◽  
pp. 12-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilan Kelman ◽  
Jessica Mercer ◽  
Jc Gaillard
Keyword(s):  
Indigenous Knowledge ◽  
Risk Reduction ◽  
Disaster Risk Reduction ◽  
Disaster Risk

Linking disaster risk reduction, climate change and development

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 216-228 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Lisa F. Schipper ◽  
Frank Thomalla ◽  
Gregor Vulturius ◽  
Marion Davis ◽  
Karlee Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Risk Reduction ◽  
Disaster Risk Reduction ◽  
Political Action ◽  
Disaster Risk ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Climate Risks ◽  
Emerging Risk ◽  
Or Practice ◽  
Future Work

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to advance the dialogue between the disaster risk reduction (DRR) and adaptation community by investigating their differences, similarities and potential synergies. The paper examines how DRR and adaptation can inform development to tackle the underlying drivers of disaster risk. Design/methodology/approach Based on a risk-based approach to the management of climate variability and change, the paper draws from a critical review of the literature on DRR and adaptation. The study finds that known and emerging risk from disasters continues to increase dramatically in many parts of the world, and that climate change is a key driver behind it. The authors also find that underlying causes of social vulnerability are still not adequately addressed in policy or practice. Linking DRR and adaptation is also complicated by different purposes and perspectives, fragmented knowledge, institutions and policy and poor stakeholder coordination. Findings The author’s analysis suggests that future work in DRR and adaptation should put a much greater emphasis on reducing vulnerability to environmental hazards, if there is truly a desire to tackle the underlying drivers of disaster and climate risks. Originality/value This will require coherent political action on DRR and adaptation aimed at addressing faulty development processes that are the main causes of growing vulnerability. The study concludes with a first look on the new Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and how it aims to connect with adaptation and development.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document