Effectiveness of Indigenous Knowledge and Resilience of the Kalasha Indigenous Community in Climate-induced Disasters and Water Management

Abstract

This research is carried out in District Chitral (Kalash valley), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan to investigate the effectiveness of indigenous knowledge in disasters and climate change resilience. The study is qualitative in nature where in-depth interviews and focus group discussions are used as methods of data collection. There were 48 respondents from three clusters of the study area (Bumburet, Rumboor, and Birir). Indigenous early warning system, indigenous housing and infrastructure methods, Forest and land management, and water and food security are analyzed through thematic and narrative analysis. The study revolves around the objectives such as identification and documentation of indigenous practices of Kalasha people regarding climate change and disasters. Apart from that, it also investigates the effectiveness of these practices in forecasting, mitigating and adapting to climate uncertainties and disasters. As there are no valid documentations of the ancestral practices regarding climate change and disasters, this study briefly incorporates the methods through which indigenous knowledge is transmitted, maintained, and adapted across generations. Playing a significant role in forecasting, mitigating and adapting to climate uncertainties, indigenous practices are often taken for granted by the policy makers and organizations.