Disaster Risk Reduction: Lessons from Traditional Knowledge

Abstract

World over, there is a great shift from disaster management to disaster risk reduction. The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 also focused on to prevention of new risk, reduction of existing risk and strengthening of societal and environmental resilience in process of achieving sustainability. It is a known fact that traditional knowledge has a wealth of knowledge on any subject. This paper is an attempt to review the traditional knowledge related to the built environment of the hills of Uttarakhand, in a process of learning their relevance, to cope up with the threats and vulnerabilities from disasters. The study was conducted and explained through a case study of village Bagori. The qualitative data was collected through an intensive primary survey of the village, discussions with the villagers and available written documents. In the absence of sufficient data availability, the drawings and details of the area were created by the authors, compared and digitized. The analysis of the data was done through GIS (hydro tool) and verified by cross-referencing from the secondary scientific literature. The synthesis of both the spatial and social knowledge reviewed concludes on the possibility of establishing a strong relationship of traditional knowledge in disaster risk reduction. The paper recommends that adaptation of traditional knowledge, dovetailed with contemporary practices will certainly contribute to achieving sustainable development of the disaster-prone region.