Cultural Systems in Water Management for Disaster Risk Reduction: The Case of the Ladakh Region

Abstract

There has been an increase in hydrological disasters over the past few decades as a result of climate change. Also, there is a growing recognition of the need to integrate traditional knowledge into Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) policies and practices on a global scale. Traditionally, village folk have used observation-based, traditional methods to avoid high economic costs associated with sustainable management of their resources and livelihood. Due to ongoing climate change impacts and migrations, indigenous knowledge is gradually disappearing, and other modern systems have been unable to effectively replace it to the desirable extent. This paper investigates how the traditional knowledge and cultural systems of local communities living in the high-altitude cold desert region of the Ladakh region in India have contributed to their water management systems. In addition, the article discusses how haphazard changes in the contemporary environment are causing issues related to water scarcity and livelihood leading to the slow onset of disasters. Through non-participant observations during a two-month volunteering engagement and literature review, the present study attempts to track the changing realm and attitude of the Ladakhi community towards water conservation in light of climate change and depleting resources. A comparison was made between the government and non-government initiatives for the conservation and management of water resources. The results of this study suggest that traditional knowledge and cultural systems have a significant role in increasing community participation and awareness of climate change and disaster risk.