Importance of indigenous knowledge in flood risk reduction: a review

Abstract

Interest in Indigenous Knowledge (IK) system has been particularly highlighted in flood disasters, due to the likely increase of flood events resulting from anthropogenic climate change through heavy precipitation, increased catchment wetness, and sea level rise. Therefore, bringing IK of flood risk reduction into focus and context to deepen the understanding of how people manage their own changing circumstances can bring more pertinent information about flood risk reduction. This paper reviews the significance of IK in flood risk reduction. Specifically, the paper discusses IK flood forecasting, early warning signs, adaptation and coping strategies in flood risk reduction around the world. The Methodological approach employed for this paper is the review of existing literature on IK in flood Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), and then a summary of the outcomes of the studies reviewed was discussed. However, it was deduced from the review undertaken, the need for an intensive empirical study to be conducted to explore how efficient these strategies or techniques are, in relation to flood risk reduction, which this paper strongly recommends for further investigation. Additionally, the paper concludes by emphasizing that although the IK of flood risk reduction is embedded in varied regions around the globe, still there is a need for further study to be carried out in order to unveil why the similarities and variations in flood risk reduction practices/strategies between regions.