Integrating indigenous knowledge and scientific methods for flood risk analyses, responses and adaptation in rural coastal communities in Nigeria

This report describes a project aimed at integrating indigenous flood prediction knowledge with scientific methods—such as GIS-based risk maps, weather stations, and flood gauges—to improve coastal flood management and adaptation in rural communities within the Niger Delta of Nigeria.

• Coastal flooding in the Niger Delta is increasing in intensity, threatening coastal wetlands and ecosystems while negatively impacting the food and livelihood security of thousands of rural communities located in estuaries, lagoons, creeks, and freshwater banks.
• While rural communities in the Niger Delta possess indigenous knowledge to forecast floods with some accuracy, this knowledge has not been integrated with scientific methods to improve post-disaster management, contingency planning, or risk analysis, particularly regarding agricultural production.
• The project implemented a community-based participatory approach to coastal flood management by conducting field surveys in twenty villages to identify indigenous knowledge and installing weather stations and flood gauges in ten communities. The project also introduced GIS-based flood risk maps to trained monitors to blend indigenous and scientific techniques.
• Research results indicate that every community studied possesses specific techniques and signs for forecasting various magnitudes and types of floods. Additionally, these rural communities demonstrate an awareness of the potential impacts of sea level rise and a willingness to engage in adaptation processes.

APA

Climate and Development Knowledge Network (2014). Integrating indigenous knowledge and scientific methods for flood risk analyses, responses and adaptation in rural coastal communities in Nigeria. https://cdkn.org/resource/indigenous-knowledge-and-scientific-methods-for-flood-risk-analyses-responses-and-adaptation-rural-coastal-communities-nigeria

Chicago

Climate and Development Knowledge Network. Integrating indigenous knowledge and scientific methods for flood risk analyses, responses and adaptation in rural coastal communities in Nigeria. 2014. https://cdkn.org/resource/indigenous-knowledge-and-scientific-methods-for-flood-risk-analyses-responses-and-adaptation-rural-coastal-communities-nigeria.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Climate and Development Knowledge Network |title=Integrating indigenous knowledge and scientific methods for flood risk analyses, responses and adaptation in rural coastal communities in Nigeria |date=6 August 2014 |url=https://cdkn.org/resource/indigenous-knowledge-and-scientific-methods-for-flood-risk-analyses-responses-and-adaptation-rural-coastal-communities-nigeria |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{climateanddevelopmentknowledgenetwork2014integrating, author = {{Climate and Development Knowledge Network}}, title = {{Integrating indigenous knowledge and scientific methods for flood risk analyses, responses and adaptation in rural coastal communities in Nigeria}}, institution = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, year = {2014}, month = aug, url = {https://cdkn.org/resource/indigenous-knowledge-and-scientific-methods-for-flood-risk-analyses-responses-and-adaptation-rural-coastal-communities-nigeria}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }