LITERATURE REVIEW ON HOW INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE FACILITATES DISASTER RISK REDUCTION

In the last decade some egregious disasters have impacted several countries in different regions of the world. Despite the severity of these disasters, the effects on the different countries have been varied depending on their disaster risk reduction capacity. Interestingly, despite often being marginalized and situated in geographically precarious locations, the indigenous peoples have disproportionately featured among the persons that have experienced comparatively diminished negative effects of disasters. This observation has been a prominent focus of the works of development specialists and scholars alike. As, it provided tangible proof that the knowledge and practices of indigenous peoples are effective in disaster riskreduction. In light of the foregoing, the pursuit of this research study is of great significance. Firstly, this literature review details and adds to the repository of knowledge that create heightened awareness about the importance of indigeniety forming the crux of sustainable development. In addition, the review aims to answer the following questions: i) To assess the vulnerability of the Bog Hole community in relations to flooding, ii) To investigate the key elements of Local Knowledge used in the various stages of Disaster Risk Reduction and iii) To explore how the existing disaster risk reduction strategies protect local livelihoods and environmental sustainability. By answering these questions, the review shows that the geographical survival techniques and innate disaster risk reduction strategies employed by the indigenous people can be used by government ministries, policymakers, and even academics to inform policy decisions and attendant initiatives that are geared at disaster risk reduction with the overarching lesson being that disaster risk reduction should be an everyday feature oflife. The primary knowledge forms explored in this review, are those found in Africa,Asia and Pacific regions. Consequently, the disasters and affiliated disaster risk reduction strategies informed by indigenous knowledge that are mainly explored consist of tsunamis, cyclones, droughts, and typhoons.