Chapter 12. Local Wisdom in Disaster Mitigation

Knowledge developed through community experience can serve as an important resource for recognizing warning signs, determining protective actions, managing the environment, and strengthening resilience. The “smong” tradition in Simeulue demonstrates how orally transmitted knowledge about tsunami signs can help communities respond quickly after an earthquake and sea withdrawal. Around Mount Merapi, observations of changes in animal behavior, air temperature, and sky color form part of local knowledge that can support awareness of volcanic activity. Bali’s Subak system illustrates the relationship between water management, community coordination, social values, and flood-risk reduction. Local wisdom is valuable because it is closely connected to community life and local environmental conditions, but it should also be assessed and integrated with scientific knowledge to improve its effectiveness. Combining modern technology with local knowledge can produce mitigation approaches that are contextual, socially accepted, and sustainable.