Disaster Management in Nepalese Context: An Ecological Perspective

Authors

  • Kabi Prasad Pokhrel Environmental Geography, CDOGE, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu,Nepal

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30564/re.v2i3.2332

Abstract

This paper attempts to identify major natural hazards and disaster incidents damage and losses in Nepal. Using participatory and geographical diversity approach and for collecting information, multi- criteria decision making methods and analytical hierarchic process to identify the hazard prone area with type and intensity and location - specific innovative practices and their legitimization for integrating local knowledge and skills into mainstream development policy, science and technology through educational assessment to incorporate local knowledge as live science for disaster management, climate change adaptation and sustainable livelihood improvement. Findings of the study reveal that their variety of natural hazards, such as landslides, flood/inundation, droughts, soil erosion, earthquakes, thunderstorm/lightening and fire are exacerbated by environmental degradation processes. There are location specific local practices for resource conservation, utilization and disaster management for the well- being of communities before, during and after disasters. Such practices passed on from one generation to the next without being integrated into mainstream development strategies, disaster policy and science. Knowledge of ecology and local skills and materials for hazard prevention and mitigation have the important role to mitigate the hazards and ensure the sustainability for community life style. Moreover, this study proposed an action- oriented model i.e. political- ecological framework of the environmental resource conservation, disaster management and climate change adaptation practices in mostly vulnerable locations of Nepal. Moreover, measures are suggested to enhance the community capacity for managing their livelihood resources and are hindrance to policy making and scientific advancement at the community level with proper integration of local knowledge with science and mainstream development policy.

Keywords:

Political- ecological framework, Disaster, Local knowledge and local practice, Hazard prone locations, Innovation development

References

[1] National Emergency Operation Centre. (NEOC). Nepal disaster report-2019. Kathmandu: MOHA/GON, 2019

[2] United Nations (UN). Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015-2030). United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) (2012). Statistical yearbook for Asia and the Pacific. Available on line from: http://www.unescap.org/stat/data/syb2012/index.asp,2012 [accessed14.09.13].

[3] UNDRR. Disaster Risk Reduction in Nepal: Status Report 2019. Bangkok, Thailand: United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, 2019.

[4] United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP). Statistical yearbook for Asia and the Pacific. Available on line from: http://www.unescap.org/stat/data/syb2012/index.asp;2012 [accessed14.09.13].

[5] Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA). Risk reduction policy 2018.Kathmandu: MOHA, 2018.

[6] Lambert, S. J., Scott, J. C. International Disaster Risk Reduction Strategies and Indigenous Peoples. The International Indigenous Policy Journal, 2019, 10(2). Retrieved from: https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/iipj/vol10/iss2/2

[7] MoSTE. Indigenous and Local Knowledge and Practices for Climate Resilience in Nepal, Mainstreaming Climate Change Risk Management in Development, Kathmandu: Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment (MoSTE), 2015.

[8] Ruheza, S., Khamis, Z. K. Integration of the indigenous knowledge and scientific systems for conservation of biodiversity: significances of their different worldviews and their win-loss relationship. Journal of Sustainable Development in Africa, 2012, 14(6): 160- 174.

[9] Albris, K., Lauta, K.C. Raju, E. Disaster knowledge gaps: Exploring the interface between science and policy for disaster risk reduction in Europe. Int J Disaster Risk Sci., 2020, 11: 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13753-020-00250-5

[10] Kythreotis AP, Mantyka-Pringle C,Mercer TG, Whitmarsh LE, Corner A,Paavola J, Chambers C, Miller BA, Castree N. Citizen social science for more integrative and effective climate action: A science-policy perspective. Front. Environ. Sci. 2019, 7: 10. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2019.00010

[11] UNMGCY. Youth science policy interface publication - Special Edition: Disaster risk reduction: A road of opportunities. Mexico: UN Major Group for Children and youths, 2017.

[12] Pokhrel, K.P. University research on climate change adaptation and risk management. TU Bulletin Special, 2015: 62-70.

[13] Rai, P., Khawas, V. Traditional knowledge system in disaster risk reduction: Exploration, acknowledgement and proposition. Jàmbá: Journal of Disaster Risk Studies, 2019, 11(1): a484. https://doi.org/10.4102/jamba.v11i1.484

[14] Mechler, Reinhard, Colin McQuistan, Ian McCallum, Wei Liu, Adriana Keating, Piotr Magnuszewski, Thomas Schinko, Finn Laurien, Stefan Hochrainer-Stigler. Supporting Climate Risk Management at Scale. Insights from the Zurich Flood Resilience Alliance Partnership Model Applied in Peru & Nepal. Loss and Damage from Climate Change, 2018: 393-424.

[15] Tiernan,Anne, Lex Drennan, Johanna Nalau, Esther Onyango, Lochlan Morrissey, Brendan Mackey. A review of themes in disaster resilience literature and international practice since 2012. Journal of Policy Design and Practice, 2019, 2(1): 53-74.

[16] Walsh, Sara. Mainstreaming disaster risk reduction in Nepal: The rhetoric and the reality. Doctoral thesis, Northumbria University, 2017.

[17] Sarma, K., Barik, S.K. Landslide susceptibility zonation of Tawang District of Arunachal Pradesh using geospatial technology. Disaster and Development, 2013, 7 (1&2): 97-113.

[18] Danladi, A. Indigenous knowledge in flood disaster risk reduction in Kaduna town Nigeria. PhD dissertation submitted to Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 2019.

[19] Mélissa Généreux, Marc Lafontaine, Angela Eykelbosh. From science to policy and practice: A critical assessment of knowledge management before, during, and after environmental public health disasters. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019, 16(4): 587. Published online 2019 Feb 18. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16040587

[20] Khor, M., Lin, L. L. Good practices and innovative experiences in the south: Citizen initiatives in social services, popular education and human rights. London: Zed Book Ltd, 2016, 3.

[21] Marten, G. G. Human ecology: basic concepts for sustainable development. UK: Earthscan publishers, 2008.

[22] Basnayake, S, Punyawardena, BVR, Jayasinghe, S, Gupta, N, Shrestha, ML & Premalal, KHMS. Climate smart disaster risk reduction interventions in Agriculture sector - Flood hazard - A practitioner’s handbook. Japan: Asian Disaster Preparedness Center, 2019.

[23] Takako Izumi, Rajib Shaw, Riyanti Djalante, Mikio Ishiwatari, Takeshi Komino. Disaster risk reduction and innovations. Progress in Disaster Science. 2019, 2: 100033. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pdisas.2019.100033.

[24] Ranke, U. Natural Disaster Risk Management: Geosciences and Social Responsibility. Switzerland: Springer International Publishing, 2016.

[25] Wester, P, Mishra, A, Mukherji, A, Shrestha, A.B. (eds). The Hindu Kush Himalaya Assessment - Mountains, Climate Change, Sustainability and People. Switzerland AG, Cham: Springer Nature, 2019.

Downloads

How to Cite

Pokhrel, K. P. (2020). Disaster Management in Nepalese Context: An Ecological Perspective. Research in Ecology, 2(3), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.30564/re.v2i3.2332

Issue

Article Type

Articles