Indigenous Knowledge for Disaster Risk Reduction: Good Practices and Lessons Learned from Experiences in the Asia-Pacific Region

The experiences of the members of Singas village, situated in Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea (PNG), illustrate how indigenous knowledge can contribute to disaster risk reduction. Singas village is a small community situated along the banks of one of PNG’s major rivers, the Markham River. As a consequence, it is affected by yearly flooding following heavy rains experienced during the rainy season. The example holds particular significance as not only does the river represent a potential hazard but it is also the source of the community’s livelihood and therefore holds great importance within the community. As a result the community is extremely pro-active in its efforts to mitigate the consequences of flooding. Indigenous knowledge in five specific areas, namely building methods, social linkages, land-use planning, food strategies and environmental strategies, has proven to help contribute to the community’s ability to mitigate the impact of regular flooding events.