Indigenous and Scientific Knowledge

for DRR

Jessica MercerDRR Advisor

CAFODwww.cafod.org.uk

jmercer@cafod.org.ukJessica-mercer@hotmail.com

Indigenous and Scientific Knowledge

WHAT…….

Is Indigenous knowledge?Is scientific knowledge?Do the two have in common?

Indigenous Communities and DRR

WHERE….

2004 Tsunami Cyclone Zoe 2002 - Solomon Islands Char people Jamuna River,

Bangladesh

New Risks, New ChallengesWHEN….

Climate change, increased urbanisation, population etc

Indigenous knowledge being lost yet indigenous communities have adapted for centuries.

Romanticising IK

Need to integrate relevant and applicable IK and SK NOW!

Current Findings

WHY…..

VFL and GAR Findings Community based DRR Integration of bottom up and top-down Proactive rather than reactive Cost effective

WHO……….

Integrating Indigenous and Scientific Knowledge

HOW……..

Participatory Action Research Motivation / Willingness Guided Discovery Not enough just to record

Process FrameworkSTEP ONE: Community Engagement

STEP TWO: Identification of Vulnerability Factors

STEP THREE: Identification of Indigenous and Scientific Strategies

STEP FOUR: Identification of an Integrated Strategy addressing

disaster risk

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Challenges

This is one such method – more research needed. Process of implementation. Capacity building/Culture of respect Making and breaking dependency patterns. Mainstreaming IK into DRR policy. Ongoing process Recognition of value of IK.

For more information see Mercer et al., 2008, 2009

Way Forward in meeting the HFA……

• A more holistic approach to DRR is required which recognises the importance of both indigenous and scientific knowledge in reducing risk.• Underlying risk factors can be addressed through integrating relevant and applicable indigenous and scientific knowledge. • Community level actions need to be linked with local, national and global level initiatives.

We cannot afford to ignore this valuable resource.