Combining Local and Scientific Knowledge and Actions in Ecosystem-Based Disaster Risk Reduction in Sri Lanka
type: CreativeWork
description: Despite its growing recognition, community participation in ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction remains insufficient. Dominant approaches based on Western scientific knowledge often overlook local people’s knowledge, skills, capacities, and right to participate in ecosystem-disaster risk reduction. This can lead to a lack of community trust in ecosystem-based DRR, resulting in poor and unsustainable disaster risk reduction outcomes. This thesis aims to investigate how the integration of local knowledge and actions with Western scientific knowledge can strengthen the implementation and long-term viability of Ecosystem-based DRR in Sri Lanka. The research was conducted in two phases using a qualitative framework informed by social constructivism. The first phase involved key informant interviews with practitioners from DRR and related fields to gather insights on the implementation of ecosystem-based DRR, as well as the combination of local and scientific knowledge and actions. The second phase focused on local people’s perceptions, knowledge, and actions in ecosystem-based DRR, focusing on two case studies capturing both rural and urban areas. The first case study was conducted in urban Kolonnawa, a Divisional Secretariat Division, a suburb of Colombo, the capital city, to assess urban residents' views and engagement in community initiatives. The second case study was conducted in Rathnapura Divisional Secretariat Division, a mountain township some 70km east of Colombo, targeting two rural areas to explore rural inhabitants' perceptions and participation in community efforts related to ecosystem-based DRR. The study findings show that practitioners and urban and rural communities understand ecosystems' role in hazard mitigation but can lack awareness of how ecosystems can alleviate socioeconomic and cultural vulnerabilities. The research indicates that practitioners and communities in urban and rural areas clearly understand the link between ecosystem degradation…
abstract: Despite its growing recognition, community participation in ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction remains insufficient. Dominant approaches based on Western scientific knowledge often overlook local people’s knowledge, skills, capacities, and right to participate in ecosystem-disaster risk reduction. This can lead to a lack of community trust in ecosystem-based DRR, resulting in poor and unsustainable disaster risk reduction outcomes. This thesis aims to investigate how the integration of local knowledge and actions with Western scientific knowledge can strengthen the implementation and long-term viability of Ecosystem-based DRR in Sri Lanka. The research was conducted in two phases using a qualitative framework informed by social constructivism. The first phase involved key informant interviews with practitioners from DRR and related fields to gather insights on the implementation of ecosystem-based DRR, as well as the combination of local and scientific knowledge and actions. The second phase focused on local people’s perceptions, knowledge, and actions in ecosystem-based DRR, focusing on two case studies capturing both rural and urban areas. The first case study was conducted in urban Kolonnawa, a Divisional Secretariat Division, a suburb of Colombo, the capital city, to assess urban residents' views and engagement in community initiatives. The second case study was conducted in Rathnapura Divisional Secretariat Division, a mountain township some 70km east of Colombo, targeting two rural areas to explore rural inhabitants' perceptions and participation in community efforts related to ecosystem-based DRR. The study findings show that practitioners and urban and rural communities understand ecosystems' role in hazard mitigation but can lack awareness of how ecosystems can alleviate socioeconomic and cultural vulnerabilities. The research indicates that practitioners and communities in urban and rural areas clearly understand the link between ecosystem degradation…
author: Lansakara Ul Arachchige, Damithri Chathumani Jayasekara
date published: 2025
date modified: 2026-07-27T18:45:53Z
provider: AUT University
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: AUT University