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This special issue of the Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge has a focus on the importance of traditional knowledge in disaster prediction, forecasting, management and climate change and includes fourteen papers on studies from India. The papers include:
This paper is based on the findings of six years of collaborative work with Adi tribes from 14 villages of East and Upper Siang districts of Arunachal Pradesh, and aims at recording Adi knowledge and experiences related to biocultural resources and their interactions with climate change and livelihood sustainability.
The findings reveal that the Adi tribes have a rich knowledge related to biocultural resources, which plays an important role for the tribes in coping with weather anomalies and any abrupt climatic changes in order to sustain their livelihoods.
The paper concludes by stating that the future of the Adi tribes biocultural resources and livelihood sustainability depends very much on their Traditional Environmental Knowledge (TEK) and their active role in research, planning and policy implementation for climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Download the paper here.
This paper documents some of the collective wealth of indigenous knowledge related to agricultural practices, including land preparation, manuring, soil treatment, cropping systems, input management, water resource management and utilisation and soil and water conservation practices, used especially by tribal farmers of the region.
The study makes connections with the related research and policy issues essential for successful amalgamation of such indigenous knowledge in resource conservation and climate change adaptation and argues that indigenous people and their knowledge are central to the adaptive changes that use available natural resources essential to face the world's changing climate.
The paper argues that planners and policy makers have a valuable tool and dimension from which a participatory research agenda can be formulated by seeking opinions and participation of indigenous populations and that there is an urgent need for building on local and traditional knowledge relating to managing natural resources and climate risk.
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Prediction of rainfall variation through flowering phenology of night-flowering jasmine (Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L.; Verbenaceae) in Tripura
This paper highlights the findings of a study that demonstrates how traditional knowledge among the folk people of Tripura can be useful for predicting changes in the weather, plan agroforestry activities for disaster mitigation.One such prediction relates to the phenology of Nycanthes arbor-tristis L., night flowering jasmine, which helps them to forecast the onset of heavy rainfall.
The information about the prediction of rainfall by observing the flower phenology was recorded through the interview with village elders using an interview schedule. Besides this, focus group discussions and questionnaires were also used to collect information from elderly women and men and wider population for the study. The researchers found that the flowering of Nycanthes arbor-tristis L.,is a good indicator of weather lore for the prediction of both long and short range precipitation.
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Ardu (Ailunthus sp) in arid ecosystem: A compatible species for combating with drought and securing livelihood security of resource poor people
This study attempts to demonstrate the botanical description, geographical distribution and other phenotypic characters, indigenous usage, marketing and economic aspects of ardu (Allianthus sp). In arid regions of Rajasthan, harsh and unfavourable climatic conditions coupled with poor soils, make agricultural production system a gamble due to high risk and uncertainties. Rearing of animals is challenging in arid ecosystems and need diversified sources of fodder and feed.
Results indicate that the species is found to be very much compatible and adapted to harsh arid ecosystem. Ardu can be one of the important tree species (MPTS) for the drought period and in arid ecosystems to sustain the productivity of sheep and goat and other animals and secure the livelihood of pastoralists and farmers.
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This paper describes the method used by local and indigenous people for predicting rainfall and other weather considerations solely on the basis of bio indicators, the phenology of plants and behaviour of animals, called as Presage biology.
Presage biology deals with the activity of species at those very moments when plants and animals prepare to take necessary precautions against upcoming natural dangers and can be applied to short, medium and long range rain forecasting.
The paper argues that it is time to integrate data from modern techniques of weather forecasting with presage biological evidence from traditional knowledge to support the extra demands for local weather prediction at specific times and in particular regions in this era of rapid climate change.
If this is not done, countries like India, which are totally dependent on the seasonal
rainfall for sustainable agriculture and allied activities, will suffer greatly in the near future from deficiencies in short, medium and long range rain forecasting.
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Kair (Capparis decidua): A potential ethnobotanical weather predictor and livelihood security shrub of the arid zone of Rajasthan and Gujarat
Kair is an important indigenous shrub found growing in farm boundaries, orans, gochars and wastelands, widely distributed in arid and semiarid tracts of India. Its ability to grow unattended and unprotected on barren lands, its unique ability to tolerate drought and heat make it a good weather forecasting species and it plays an important role in the rural economy of western Rajasthan and Gujarat.
It provides varied food and medicinal uses, building materials, fuel, wood and other income generating opportunities. It contributes to to environmental sustainability due to its soil binding capacity and its ability to reduce soil fertility of sand dunes and to reduce soil alkalinity.
The paper argues that extensive research and support activities are needed to maximise the production, propagation and utilisation of this species to help contribute to rural livelihoods and enhancement of desert lands.
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Traditional intellect in disaster risk mitigation: Indian outlook - Rajasthan and Bundelkhand icons
The present paper reviews the concepts and associated ecological hypothesis that India has a treasure of indigenous and traditional knowledge of natural resource management and these can be extrapolated to understand the modern concepts of disaster risk management in terms of early warning, preparedness, mitigation, response and relief as well.
The paper discusses this in the context of cases from Rajasthan and Bundelkhand in order to evolve recommendations for science and policies. The paper argues that revitalisation of traditional knowledge should not be considered as strictly implementing more and more sets of simple techniques, but should be viewed as an integrative means to be evaluated in the framework of environmental, productive and cultural conditions of societies.
Local people are custodians of traditional systems and are well informed of their resources, what works and does not work. The paper ends by arguing that systematic integration of cultural heritage and traditional technology, skills and local knowledge systems within the environment and development as effective means of reducing impact of disasters into existing sustainable development goals and policies at international national and local levels are central needs for developing capacities.
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Prediction and management of natural disasters through indigenous technical knowledge, with special reference to fisheries
This paper describes the importance of Indigenous Technical Knowledge (ITK) in helping communities to become more resilient in responding to major natural disasters in India. It provides insights into the traditional, age old practice of prediction and management of natural disasters, with special reference to fisheries.
The study is based on secondary sources collected from fishermen groups of Chouldari village, South Andaman, Andaman and Nicobar islands and Orissa fishermen. The study undertook a discussion on natural disaster management through indigenous knowledge on agriculture, and specifically in fisheries in India.
The prediction of natural disasters including earthquakes, droughts, tsunamis, heavy rains and floods through ITK was reviewed for tribal and indigenous people of India, in order to gain insights into approaches that might help mitigate future losses to agriculture and fisheries in the country.
The study found that the ITK found in local communities in India is an amalgamation of strategies, skills, rules and techniques gained through sharp adaptive man-environment interactions to live and survive the natural way of life. Not all the traditional knowledge has remained relevant since some of the conditions on which ITK was based has changed considerably.
However, the paper argues that there is much to learn from the indigenous, traditional and community based approaches for natural disaster preparedness. The people have been confronted with a wide array of coping strategies and their traditional knowledge and practices can provide an important basis for facing the even greater challenges of natural disasters.
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Traditional knowledge on disaster management: A preliminary study of the Lepcha community of Sikkim, India
This paper explores the traditional knowledge on disaster management of the Lepcha tribals of Sikkim. Traditional knowledge has only recently touched the scientific chord of western academic knowledge. More and more researchers today are turning towards it not only to fill gaps in existing societal knowledge, but also to find novel knowledge concepts and viewpoints for application in a contemporary context.
Since tribal groups have lived within their local environments since time immemorial, it is obvious that they do possess a rich knowledge about nature. Hence research on nature and environment is enriched by incorporating traditional knowledge of indigenous and tribal people.
Such knowledge can be a precious resource that can facilitate the process of disaster prevention, preparedness and response in cost effective, participatory and sustainable ways.This paper argues and demonstrates that in the guise of folklore, the Lepcha have developed an elaborate understanding of the nature and causes of disasters, as well as ways and means of mitigating their effects. The Lepcha traditional knowledge can be found to be similar to current principles of disaster management.
The study ends by arguing that the traditional knowledge of tribal groups all over the world not only needs to be recognised, conserved and documented, but also can be incorporated into efforts to formulate effective disaster management strategies.
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Cultural values and indigenous knowledge of climate change and disaster prediction in Rajasthan, India
This paper provides a case study in which indigenous knowledge and traditional stories relating to cloud formation, lightening, wind direction, rains, droughts, disaster prediction, response, mitigation and effects of weather on crops are applied in a contemporary context by tribal people of Rajasthan, India.
Scientific evidence of climate variability, of events such as droughts and floods suggests that climatic oscillations have occurred in the past and may occur in the future resulting in huge impacts on human society and economy and the ecosystems on which they depend.
The study documents how individuals in these tribal communities (including Bhil, Meena, Banjara, Kathodi, Rabaris, Sansi and Kanjar) perceive and manage natural disasters and extreme weather events, including their strategies for early detection of coming events and for coping with these events, as well as their perceptions of their short and long term impacts on biodiversity.
The paper argues that systematic documentation, quantification and subsequent integration of indigenous knowledge into conventional weather forecasting system can be one of the strategies that would help to improve the accuracy and reliability of seasonal forecasting information under a changing climate.
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Plants associated in forecasting and belief within the Meitei community of Manipur, Northeast India
This paper presents 10 plants, which are used for prediction by the Meitei ethnic people of Manipur and describes the significance of such indicators in the context of the current global environment change. Indigenous people of Manipur are closely associated in various ways with their surrounding landscapes and resources, mainly plants and animals for their day to day requirements. These people have a good knowledge of their local resources.
The majority of the state's population are rural villagers who follow their traditional beliefs, including botanical folklore and still adhere to the traditional ways of conserving biodiversity that were passed down from their ancestors. A large number of plants are used in traditional health care and not only as food and shelter and clothing, but also for predicting the weather, forecasting natural calamities.
Data were collected by the author through interaction and discussion with local resource persons. The study concluded that disaster and other calamities are difficult to predict by modern science, the traditional knowledge may be used as a precautionary tool to minimise damages from disasters.
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Indigenous cactus biodiversity: A viable genetic resource to fulfill multiform needs under rainfed ecosystems
This paper discusses cactus pear fruit with special emphasis on its functional components besides their nutritional importance as a pharmaceutical, food, fodder and other health benefits. Looking at the importance of cactus species in combating climate change, as its gene has a potential to be transferred to the agriculture crops to make them temperature resistant/tolerant, availability as fodder during droughts and a
major bio resource for ethnomedical purpose, this study was carried out to explore the potential of cactus species.
The study found that the cactus species has a great potential to deal with the challenges posed by climate change in the coming time.
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Traditional knowledge of natural disaster mitigation and ethno medicine practices in the Himalayas with special reference to Sikkim.
This paper highlights the relevance of cost effective traditional and acceptable means of mitigating disasters by local communities. The paper is based on extensive field studies, and discussions held with local populace conducted in different phases for use of the traditional disaster mitigation and medicinal plants practices of people during disaster in the remote study area.
The paper discusses the relevance of the various traditional disaster mitigation practices of the region. The study shows that the traditional understanding in the context of natural disaster like earthquake, landslide and drought mitigation is fairly evolved and can be useful and relevant even in the present context to deal with disasters such as earthquakes, landslides and droughts.
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Traditional knowledge, weather prediction and bio indicators: A case study in Mizoram, Northeastern India
This paper presents the findings of the study that aimed at documenting the traditional indigenous knowledge in the context of some bio indicators used for weather forecasting and assessing climate change, in order to assist cultural preservation and renewal, among different tribes of Mizoram.
In this study, 16 distinct bio indicators for weather forecasting were documented working with tribal people. The bio indicators were based mainly on the recognition of unique situations, the behaviour of insects, mammals, birds, characteristics of plants, location, timings and patterns of clouds, lightning, wind, moon, sun and stars.
The successful application of forecasting knowledge is based on a comparison with past events, good prognosis, close observation and a thorough understanding of the local environment. The paper concludes that the indigenous systems of knowledge represent a tri-confluence of knowledge, culture and development. Hence, there is an urgent need to record all the information among diverse ethnic communities before the traditional culture is completely lost.
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