Indigenous Knowledge in Disaster Risk Reduction

Abstract

The importance of indigenous knowledge in reducing risk from disasters andnatural calamities has been widely discussed in the social sciences by scholarsarguing for integrative frameworks and participatory processes. This type ofknowledge is vital for archipelagic developing countries, such as the Philippines, situated in a geographical area exposed to natural hazards. However, despite itspotential contribution to disaster prevention, mitigation, response, rehabilitationand recovery, along with possible combination strategies with western scientificknowledge towards reducing vulnerability and disaster risk management, theliterature on the integration of specific communities' indigenous knowledgebaseddisaster preparedness and adaptation is still limited. The novel contributionof this article is in the discussion of the unique indigenous knowledgeidentified in the cases of San Miguel Island, Camotes Island and Alabat Island, which is utilized even up to the present. Particularly, this study identifies substantialaspects of indigenous knowledge that contribute to disaster risk reductionin the three selected cases. Findings reveal myriad indigenous knowledgepertaining to intensity, height, direction and movement of ocean waves; intensityof winds; sudden surfacing of deep-sea creatures and unease of animals; differentpatterns of clouds, darkening of skies and foggy horizons, among others. In closely examining indigenous knowledge, this study sheds new light byproviding meaningful insights for its contribution to disaster preparedness. (Less)