Applicability of Indigenous knowledge and methods in flood risk management in a nigerian city

Abstract

The incidence of flooding is set to rise due to climate impacts in the coming years. Nigeria is one of the countries increasingly experiencing flooding. Its urban areas are expected to suffer more from the impacts of flooding due to the concentration of economic activities therein and projected population growth. To sustainably manage flood risks, there is a growing call to incorporate indigenous knowledge and practices in contemporary flood risk management. This work engaged with experts working in the field of flood risk management in public institutions to understand if indigenous knowledge and methods could positively inform modern flood risk management in Port Harcourt, a major flood prone Nigerian city. It finds that the applicability of indigenous knowledge in contemporary flood management in the research location is limited given the poorly managed transformation, growth, and evolution the city has experienced over time. However, some practice rooted in Indigenous knowledge and practices like planting of certain trees and mangrove species still have utility today. The government is encouraged to halt reclamations and conversions of wetlands and instead, seek ways of restoring and bringing back these important ecosystems given their natural role in flood mitigation and control. Developing urban forests can also play an integral role in managing rainwater runoff while improving the overall environmental quality.