Disaster risk reduction refers to systematic approach of identifying, assessing and reducing socio- economic vulnerabilities related to disaster. Indigenous knowledge deploys local skills, knowledge and materials based on local ecology and provide flexibility for local adaptation in hazard prone regions. Systematic integration of cultural heritage, traditional technology and skills acts as effective means of disaster risk reduction.

This need of integration is elaborated through following examples:

Mountain ecosystem management

Specific local practices such as installation of boulder sausage walls in Sikkim for checking landslides slope farming to reduce erosion, glacier grafting to control water predictability and vertical transhumance to diversify farming systems can help mitigate the disaster risk.

Desert ecosystem management

Kair is an indigenous shrub in arid and semiarid tracts of India. Its unique ability to tolerate drought and heat make it a good weather forecasting species. It plays an important role in rural economy of western Rajasthan and Gujarat by providing for food, medicinal uses, building materials, fuel, wood and environmental sustainability due to its soil binding capacity and ability to reduce soil alkalinity.

Coastal ecosystem management

Indigenous Knowledge such as the fishermen groups of Chouldari village, South Andaman gauging the behavior of black ants, snails, frogs and white worms for the prediction of cyclones.

River basin management

Indigenous strategies such as Bamboo plantation along canal bunds by the local people of Nandeswar village, Assam aimed at protecting bunds from being breached and prevent run off during heavy rainy season, annually helps to save lives.

Geological hazard management

Earthquake risk sensitive housing construction practices in Kashmir such as Taq system in which large pieces of wood or timber are used as horizontal runners embedded into masonry walls, thus preventing spreading and cracking of masonry.

Water resource management

Indigenous knowledge such as prediction of rainfall variation through flowering phenology of night flowering jasmine in Tripura helps farmers plan their crop planting activities beforehand, thus avoiding crop distress.

For comprehensive disaster risk reduction, these strategies should be supplemented with modern technologies such as GIS and remote sensing tools for hazard mapping of earthquakes, thermal infrared (TIR) imagery for active volcano monitoring, remote sensing for landscape analysis, early warning and forecasting systems such as by Area Cyclone Warning Centres (ACWCs), satellite based river basin management system, use of Synthetic Aperture Radar(SAR) for gauging relative ground displacement levels before tsunamis, multispectral satellite imagery for preparation of landslide zonation maps etc.

Ways of mainstreaming with modern technology

1. Documenting anecdotal practices and demonstrating them through national and regional pilot programs.
2. Extensive research, education and awareness building programs about linkages between indigenous knowledge and modern technology
3. Policy advocacy with national and local governments by engaging with all stakeholders for inclusion of their indigenous knowledge.
4. Setting up regional level institutional framework for promotion of indigenous knowledge and its integration in mainstream disaster risk reduction.
5. Identifying and training change agents at both the policy level, i.e. legislators and administrators and the community level, i.e. local leaders and influential citizens.
6. Dissemination of information to international and national civil society organizations for inclusion of indigenous knowledge in their respective agendas.

Hence, a blend of approaches from modern technologies and indigenous traditional knowledge can open avenues towards better disaster prevention, preparedness, response and mitigation in cost effective, participatory and sustainable ways.