Indigenous and Scientific Knowledge for DRR

1. Indigenous and Scientific Knowledge for DRR Jessica Mercer DRR Advisor CAFOD www.cafod.org.uk jmercer@cafod.org.uk Jessica-mercer@hotmail.com

2. Indigenous and Scientific Knowledge WHAT……. • Is Indigenous knowledge? • Is scientific knowledge? • Do the two have in common?

3. Indigenous Communities and DRR WHERE…. • 2004 Tsunami • Cyclone Zoe 2002 - Solomon Islands • Char people Jamuna River, Bangladesh

4. New Risks, New Challenges WHEN…. • 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!

5. Current Findings WHY….. • VFL and GAR Findings • Community based DRR • Integration of bottom up and top-down • Proactive rather than reactive • Cost effective

6. WHO……….

8. Integrating Indigenous and Scientific Knowledge HOW…….. • Participatory Action Research • Motivation / Willingness • Guided Discovery • Not enough just to record

9. Process Framework STEP ONE: Community Engagement Ongoing revision and evaluation STEP TWO: Identification of Vulnerability Factors STEP THREE: Identification of Indigenous and Scientific Strategies STEP FOUR: Identification of an Integrated Strategy addressing disaster risk

10. 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

11. 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.