How traditional mountain wisdom helps hill communities stave off disasters

Time of India

13-07-2025

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Dehradun: Despite being the toughest places to live, mountain communities across the globe have long mastered survival skills through unique, locally adapted strategies. Some of these regions -- shaped and reshaped by dynamic geological forces -- face frequent natural hazards like earthquakes, landslides, floods, droughts and avalanches.
And in the rugged terrains, the traditional mountain wisdom had often helped these hill communities stave off disasters. In fact, a new study reveals how these age-old practices hold vital lessons for today's disaster-prone world.
The detailed study was published in the international journal of Environment and Climate Change titled 'The wisdom of mountains: Traditional knowledge for resilience and disaster risk reduction'.
Focusing on Uttarakhand Himalayas while drawing examples from Andes and Alps, the study by Piyoosh Rautela, Meenakshi Bist, Deepshikha Rawat Bhatt and Kumar Raushan shows how traditional knowledge can bolster resilience and reduce risks -- if only we preserve and blend it with modern science.
"Drawing from Uttarakhand and other global highlands, our study highlights how traditional knowledge has helped secure water, prevent landslides, build quake-resistant homes and ensure food security -- all through generations of lived experience and innovation," Piyoosh Rautela, the lead author, told TOI.
The Himalayas are seismically vulnerable with a history of devastating quakes and increasing seismic risks in places like Nepal and Bhutan. Other mountain ranges, such as the Andes, Alps and Rockies, also face seismic threats. Heavy monsoon rains and cloudbursts in the Himalayas lead to flash floods and landslides, while regions like the Alps and Rockies face similar hazards from rainfall and snowmelt. Droughts have impacted rainfed agriculture in Uttarakhand and other ranges, and western disturbances frequently damage horticultural crops.
Avalanches and forest fires add to the threats, as seen in the recent deadly events in Uttarakhand and devastating wildfires in the US and Mediterranean mountains.
"Despite these dangers, mountain communities have survived for centuries by developing traditional, adaptive practices in hazard mitigation, resource management and sustainable living — knowledge passed down through generations," Deepshikha Rawat Bhatt said.
The study explains how the Himalayas, formed by the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, face frequent earthquakes -- like the devastating 1803 Garhwal quake that shook as far as Delhi. Landslides, too, are a constant threat, with over 350 lives lost in Uttarakhand's Madhyamaheshwar and Kali valleys in 1998 alone.
Yet, mountain people have found ways to cope. "These time-tested strategies, deeply intertwined with local ecosystems and cultural traditions, remain highly relevant even today," the authors write, arguing that this wisdom is fading under the pressures of globalisation and modernisation.
Take water management, for instance. In Uttarakhand, communities built 'naulas' — shallow, stone-lined wells — to tap groundwater, freeing them from relying solely on streams. These cleverly-built structures, often adorned with sacred carvings, let villages settle on safer, higher ground away from flood-prone valleys. The study notes similar ingenuity elsewhere: in Morocco's Atlas Mountains, 'khettaras' (underground channels) brought water to dry areas, much like the 'qanats' of Persia.
But in Uttarakhand, many 'naulas' now sit neglected as piped water takes over -- a loss the study calls urgent to reverse.
Landslide prevention is another area where tradition shines. Uttarakhand's people dug 'jungle gools' -- stone-lined channels -- to drain rainwater off slopes, reducing the risk of slides. The study compares this to Japan's 'dosan' channels in the Alps, showing a shared knack for taming nature.
Terracing, too, doubled as a stabiliser, turning steep hills into farmland while slowing runoff. Yet, as people leave these hills for cities, abandoned terraces are crumbling, sometimes triggering mudflows -- a problem the study dubs "agricultural terrace induced landslides.
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When it comes to earthquakes, Uttarakhand's multi-storied homes are a marvel. Built with wooden beams and stone, these houses — some over 600 years old — survived quakes like the 1803's thanks to smart design: solid platforms, simple layouts and strong joints.
"The longevity of these traditional multi-storied houses provides compelling evidence for the effectiveness of these techniques," the study says. Similar timber-and-stone tricks appear in Türkiye's 'hims' buildings, proving this isn't just local luck but a global pattern.
Food security also gets a traditional twist. Uttarakhand's Barahanaja system mixed 12 crops in one field — millets, pulses, and more — optimally utilising the vertical space and minimising risk so if one failed, others thrived.
The 'sari' rotation kept soil healthy, while dried meats and grains stored in wooden bhagars lasted through lean times. The Andes' potato diversity echoes this, showing how variety beats vulnerability.
Even road safety gets a cultural fix. In Uttarakhand, roadside temples at crash hotspots slow drivers down with a quick prayer -- a trick mirrored by stone cairns in the Andes or crosses in the Alps. It's simple but effective, blending belief with behaviour.
The catch? This knowledge is slipping away. "Globalisation and modernisation are leading to their gradual erosion," the study warns, pointing to floodplains now crowded with unsafe homes -- a stark contrast to past caution.
Joginder Bisht, founder of Uttarakhand-based social organisation Lok Chetna Manch, cites the Darma valley community in Pithoragarh as an example of disaster resilience. "They apply traditional wisdom at every step — from selecting safe land to constructing homes," Bisht told TOI. "They avoid building in landslide-prone zones or areas susceptible to flash floods during the rainy season. During the 2013 monsoon disaster, when much of the state — especially Rudraprayag — suffered extensive damage, the Darma valley saw minimal impact thanks to their vigilance.
They continually monitor weather conditions and store essential supplies in the meadows well before the onset of the rainy season," Bisht added.