“Listening to the Sounds of the Water”: Bringing Together Local Knowledge and Biophysical Data to Understand Climate-Related Hazard Dynamics

Natasha Pauli; Mark Williams; Savuti Henningsen; Kevin Davies; Chanchhaya Chhom; Floris van Ogtrop; Sochanny Hak; Bryan Boruff; Andreas Neef

doi:10.1007/s13753-021-00336-8

Volume 12 Issue 3

Dec. 2021

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Article Navigation > International Journal of Disaster Risk Science > 2021 > 12(3): 326-340

Natasha Pauli, Mark Williams, Savuti Henningsen, Kevin Davies, Chanchhaya Chhom, Floris van Ogtrop, Sochanny Hak, Bryan Boruff, Andreas Neef. “Listening to the Sounds of the Water”: Bringing Together Local Knowledge and Biophysical Data to Understand Climate-Related Hazard Dynamics[J]. International Journal of Disaster Risk Science, 2021, 12(3): 326-340. doi: 10.1007/s13753-021-00336-8

Citation:

Natasha Pauli, Mark Williams, Savuti Henningsen, Kevin Davies, Chanchhaya Chhom, Floris van Ogtrop, Sochanny Hak, Bryan Boruff, Andreas Neef. “Listening to the Sounds of the Water”: Bringing Together Local Knowledge and Biophysical Data to Understand Climate-Related Hazard Dynamics[J]. International Journal of Disaster Risk Science, 2021, 12(3): 326-340. doi: 10.1007/s13753-021-00336-8

Citation:

Natasha Pauli, Mark Williams, Savuti Henningsen, Kevin Davies, Chanchhaya Chhom, Floris van Ogtrop, Sochanny Hak, Bryan Boruff, Andreas Neef. “Listening to the Sounds of the Water”: Bringing Together Local Knowledge and Biophysical Data to Understand Climate-Related Hazard Dynamics[J]. International Journal of Disaster Risk Science, 2021, 12(3): 326-340. doi: 10.1007/s13753-021-00336-8

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“Listening to the Sounds of the Water”: Bringing Together Local Knowledge and Biophysical Data to Understand Climate-Related Hazard Dynamics

doi: 10.1007/s13753-021-00336-8

1 UWA School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia;
2 Department of Geography and Planning, School of Social Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia;
3 School of Geosciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia;
4 Faculty of Development Studies, Royal University of Phnom Penh, Phnom Penh 12150, Cambodia;
5 School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia;
6 Development Studies, School of Social Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland 1142, New Zealand

Funds:

The authors thank the communities of Thma Reab, Ou Lung, Dei Doh Kraom, Kbal Kaoh, and Prek Prasob for participating in this research, and hosting the authors. The authors acknowledge the Kratie Provincial Government, Prek Prasob District Governor, commune leaders, and village heads who permitted and assisted in the organization of the fieldwork. We extend our thanks to our research assistants and translators from the Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP): Ms Thidameas Hak, Mr Nakhem Eom, Mr Sengponleur Yuk, and Mr Kimleng Sa. The authors acknowledge support and input from Mr Siphat Touch (Ministry of Rural Development, Cambodia), Dr Kimlong Ly and Dr Nyda Chhinh (both RUPP). Rainfall data were provided by the Cambodian Department of Meteorology. The research was funded by the Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (CAF2015-RR10-NMY-Neef and CAF2017-RR01-CMY-Neef, ‘‘Climate Change Adaptation in PostDisaster Recovery Processes: Flood-Affected Communities in Cambodia and Fiji’’), the University of Western Australia (Research Collaboration Award RA/1/1200/755 ‘‘Risk, Resilience and Recovery: A Participatory Approach to Integrating Local and Scientific Knowledge for Disaster Preparedness of Communities in Flood-Prone Catchments in Fiji’’), and student grants from the UWA School of Agriculture and Environment at the University of Western Australia.

Available Online: 2021-12-25
Publish Date: 2021-12-25

Abstract

Abstract

Integrating local knowledge and scientific information can aid in co-developing locally relevant approaches for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. Communities along the Mekong River have adapted to variability in temperature, rainfall, and flooding patterns over time. Rapid environmental change in the Mekong Basin presents a new set of challenges related to drought, altered seasonal rainfall, more frequent high-flow flood events, and water withdrawals for hydropower and irrigation. We present a multi-method approach to understand how local knowledge of the spatial and temporal patterns of floods, droughts, and rainfall can be integrated with scientific information along a flood-prone section of the lower Mekong River in Kratie Province, Cambodia. Participatory hazard mapping of community members’ knowledge of the movement of floodwaters through the landscape enabled interpretation of flood extent mapping using Synthetic Aperture Radar images from the Sentinel- 1A satellite. Seasonal calendars of weather patterns and livelihood activities, together with local indicators of flooding, rainfall, and drought were compared with trends in 35 years of rainfall data, and highlighted “pressure points” at the beginning and end of the rainy season where agriculture may be particularly impacted by climate change. We discuss potential applications of our findings for adaptation and hazard planning.
- Cambodia,
- Local knowledge,
- Mekong River,
- Natural hazards,
- Participatory mapping,
- Remote sensing

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References(67)

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