Harnessing local knowledge to manage extreme climate risks

What is it about?

The impact of natural disasters, many of which are caused by extreme weather and climate events, are often experienced by local communities. These communities then use their indigenous knowledge to respond to disasters firsthand. This traditional, local knowledge (LK) is very useful. It could be leveraged to formulate disaster reduction and adaptation plans. How can this be done, though? The authors of this paper have an answer! In a novel approach, they first linked LK to community disaster risk management. Then, they built a conceptual model based on LK. This model could connect extreme climate, LK, disaster risk management, and farmers’ adaptation strategies. It was then tested on traditional nomads in China. It found that local populations could manage extreme climates using adaptation strategies derived from LK.

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Photo by Ariungoo Batzorig on Unsplash

Photo by Ariungoo Batzorig on Unsplash

Why is it important?

LK has stood the test of time, being passed on over many generations. Moreover, it is a holistic system. It encompasses the whole disaster management process. Hence, it could help us cope with recurrent extreme events. It could also assist in identifying unusual environmental conditions. For these reasons, LK is very valuable. The integration of LK with disaster management may serve as a basis to develop appropriate strategies to deal with extreme weather events and climate change. KEY TAKEAWAY: LK contains relevant knowledge about disaster risk management. Hence, it must be safeguarded. Local communities, which are the source of LK, should be protected. This will help us develop resilient climate change strategies Keywords