Abstract
Disasters which are resulted due to the natural or anthropogenic environmental damage processes such as deforestation, desertification, loss of biodiversity, soil erosion etc. and are increasing day by day. As such there are potentialities for outbreaks and their high risk at any places at any time. There are many literatures which suggest the possibility of disaster risk reduction and early warning through local indigenous knowledge and practices. The present study is an attempt to explore, evaluate andanalyse the local knowledge and skills that are being practiced and used to reduce the risk of various types of natural hazards. Kailali district lying in the Sudur Paschim Province of Nepal is chosen as the study area. Chure rural municipality lying within Hill areas and Tikapur urban municipality lying within Terai plain areas of the district were selected as the research sites to evaluate the landslide and flood related local indigenous knowledge and practices respectively. Using a multi-assessment methodology of collecting information through targeted group discussions, key informant interviews, household surveys, and field observation methods, an attempt has been made to analyse the data to explore indigenous local knowledge, skills, and traditional practices related to disaster risk and mitigation in the study area. The indigenous knowledge, skills and practices on disaster risk reduction and early warning system have been developed by generations and tested in the absence of the scientific developments. However, many communities have lost their local knowledge, skills, and traditional practices because of non transfer by the senior citizens to the young generations. The findings of the study indicate that indigenous and local knowledge and practices are valuable resources that can support in the process of disaster management, prevention, preparedness, and cost-effective disaster risk reduction. Therefore, the researchers view that it would be wise decision focusing the policy framework by integrating indigenous and local knowledge, wisdom, and skills of the local people.
Highlights
And culturally in a context-specific, collective, holistic, and adaptive knowledge is referred to indigenous knowledge (IK)
The present section contains the information obtained from targeted group discussions, key informant interviews, household surveys, and field observation methods and discussions based on the data to explore indigenous local knowledge, skills, and traditional practices related to disaster riskreduction and mitigation
The indigenous knowledge, skills, and local practices for disaster risk reduction were explored based on uchoghar made by both concrete and wood, instant bag preparation, plantation, an early warning system for disaster risk, dam construction, planting cactus on the roof of a house, and indigenous knowledge for weather forecasting
Summary
And culturally in a context-specific, collective, holistic, and adaptive knowledge is referred to indigenous knowledge (IK). IK was previously largely shadowed in the field of development and conservation (Mistry, 2009). Indigenous knowledge is currently living as a revival and it is necessary to include the knowledge in every developmental and conservation activities concerned to the people. The indigenous knowledge for disaster risk reduction is important for the disaster-prone area (Risk Nexus, 2015). Now-a-days, the human-made disasters are appearing due to development infrastructures being built without appropriate planning (Bhandari et al, 2020). Various studies have shown that floods and landslides displace thousands of homes and kill hundreds of people every year (MoHA, 2013; Poshan, Sharma, Marshak, & Stites, 2013). In Nepal, it is the common fact that there is a risk of landslides in the hilly areas and floods in the Tarai region.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
