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

The report examines the integration of indigenous flood forecasting with scientific tools in the Niger Delta of Nigeria. It details a project that deployed weather stations, flood gauges, and GIS-based risk maps across twenty villages to enhance local risk analysis and adaptation. Findings indicate that rural communities possess specific indigenous techniques for forecasting floods and are aware of the risks posed by sea level rise.

• Coastal flooding in the Niger Delta is increasing in intensity, which threatens coastal wetlands and ecosystems and negatively impacts the food and livelihood security of thousands of rural communities.
• While rural communities in the Niger Delta use indigenous knowledge to forecast floods with some accuracy, this knowledge has not been integrated with scientific methods for risk analysis, contingency planning, or post-disaster management, particularly regarding agricultural production.
• The project implemented a participatory approach in twenty villages, installing weather stations and flood gauges in ten communities and introducing GIS-based flood risk maps to trained monitors to blend indigenous and scientific techniques.
• Research results confirm that each community possesses specific signs and techniques for forecasting various types and magnitudes of floods, and these communities are aware of and willing to adapt to the effects of sea level rise.

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} }