Abstract
The last 60 years have witnessed advanced technological innovation for disaster risk reduction (DRR) with the invention of high-resolution satellite imagery, digital cartography and modern engineering building techniques to high-yielding agricultural production. However, none have been highly satisfying in lessening the impact of disasters. The significant factor for the limited success of modern scientific society is that it views the world from a temporal perspective where humans are believed to be an active agent in modifying every natural possibility into opportunity. The very composite environmental system is simplified whilst extracting resources, resulting in resource depletion and environmental degradation, consequently opening the door for disaster. Technocratic science must recognise the need for a relational or holistic approach rather than believing in reductionist approaches alone whilst dealing with natural calamities. In this context, the knowledge of traditional societies is important to fill up the existing gaps created by the modern society. Traditional knowledge has different sets of ingredients to foster the development of the relational or holistic approach as it involves, interacts and interconnects humans, non-humans (animals and plants) and nature together, setting a perfect balance for sustainable development and DRR. It has vast undocumented observational data of changing natural phenomena, and in today’s scenario of climate change and uncertainty, it can create a path for reliable adaptation measures from climate-induced disasters. Thus, a holistic approach is needed for comprehensive DRR measures where both scientific and traditional knowledge systems can work together. The main purpose of this article was to explore the effective ingredients of traditional knowledge in DRR and how this age-old wisdom can be offered a hand to its integration into and collaboration with scientific research and management for DRR. To fulfil the objectives, a theoretical desk study approach was followed by identifying relevant studies, highlighting traditional knowledge in DRR from empirical and grey literatures, archive materials, biblical stories and so on. This research highlights some of the good practices of traditional knowledge in DRR and the possible path of collaboration of two knowledge systems in DRR.
Highlights
Since the time of human evolution, humans had to face various natural calamities that even threatened their very existence on this planet
All traditional knowledge cannot be treated as a disaster risk reduction (DRR) tool unless the local community recognises and uses this knowledge on a daily basis
Without the recognition and utilisation by the local community, indigenous knowledge merely becomes a part of common things in the community (Syafwina 2014)
Summary
Since the time of human evolution, humans had to face various natural calamities that even threatened their very existence on this planet. There are many ancient historical events where natural calamities nearly wiped out human civilisation. Theorists such as Jared Diamond (2005) and Dr Floyd McCoy (Cecil 2011) expressed that many of the great civilisations in history, such as the Mayan, the Minoan and the old Egyptian Empire, were brought to their knees not by their enemies but by the effects of floods, drought, famine, earthquake, volcanic eruption, tsunamis and other widespread disasters (Coppola 2011; Fagan 1999). Ancient and historical stories have detailed recordings about the great natural disasters, their causes and their impacts upon mankind. Many ancient and historical stories have highlighted the response of humans during the said disastrous events. The biblical story of Noah’s ark has depicted the very image of a huge flood on the earth’s surface and http://www.jamba.org.za
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