Indigenous knowledge for climate change induced flood adaptation in Nepal
Article
Article Title | Indigenous knowledge for climate change induced flood adaptation in Nepal |
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ERA Journal ID | 41741 |
Article Category | Article |
Authors | Devkota, Rohini Prasad (Author), Maraseni, Tek Narayan (Author), Cockfield, Geoff (Author) and Devkota, Laxmi Prasad (Author) |
Journal Title | The International Journal of Climate Change: Impacts and Responses |
Journal Citation | 5 (1), pp. 35-46 |
Number of Pages | 12 |
Year | 2013 |
Place of Publication | Champaign, IL. United States |
ISSN | 1835-7156 |
Web Address (URL) | http://ijc.cgpublisher.com/product/pub.185/prod.223 |
Abstract | Floods are becoming increasingly common in Nepal resulting in a huge loss of life and damage to settlements, agriculture lands and infrastructures in various parts of the country. Most recent research findings suggest that climate change has accelerated the intensity and frequency of flood hazards in most parts of the country. Communities are however, making use of options that increase their preparedness for these flood hazards. This paper intends to assess the indigenous knowledge on flood forecasting and flood adaptation strategies at the community level in two districts of Western Terai of Nepal. Two focus group discussion and a total number of 240 households were interviewed during field visit. The collected information was scaled from least preferred- 1 to most preferred-5 based on their preferences. The research findings indicate that there are some very effective local flood forecasting practices such as identifying the position of clouds; monitoring the extent of rainfall in upper catchments; analyzing the mobility of ants; analyzing the magnitude of thunderstorms and wind blows; analyzing the magnitude of hotness; and hearing strange sounds from river/torrents. Synthesis and analysis of these indicators help communities prepare for potential flood events, through (1) preparation of search and rescue related materials; (2) creation of small drainage structures in each plot of land and storage of the valuable material; and (3) the psychologically preparation for floods. This paper argues that these indigenous flood forecasting and adaptation strategies could be particularly useful for migrants, who are in flood prone areas but are not familiar with those practices, in other parts of the country. |
Keywords | indigenous knowledge; climate change; flood forecasting; flood adaptation; community practices |
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 370201. Climate change processes |
370903. Natural hazards | |
410102. Ecological impacts of climate change and ecological adaptation | |
Public Notes | © Common Ground, Rohini Devkota, et al. Published online 4 Jun 2013. Apart from fair dealing for the purposes of study, research, criticism or review as permitted under the applicable copyright legislation, no part of this work may be reproduced by any process without written permission from the publisher. For permissions and other inquiries, please contact <cg-support@commongroundpublishing.com>. |
Byline Affiliations | Australian Centre for Sustainable Catchments |
Nepal Development Research Institute | |
Event | 5th International Conference on Climate Change |
Institution of Origin | University of Southern Queensland |
Event Details | 5th International Conference on Climate Change Event Date 18 to end of 19 Jul 2013 Event Location Port Louis, Mauritius |
https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q1zx0/indigenous-knowledge-for-climate-change-induced-flood-adaptation-in-nepal
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