PI00007297

At Tavua village in Malolo, province of Nadroga, Fiji, their heritage site Narokorokoyawa is a sandy island surrounded by sea. On one end of the island, is an extension of sandy foreshore which has a cultural significant for early detection of natural disaster particularly cyclones. Villagers are aware of the signs and indicators on the foreshore. It is told that if the sandy foreshore divides, then a cyclone will soon be upon them. The number of breaks or splits shown on the sand indicates the number of cyclones that will strike the land. 

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Beka or Bats has disappear mysteriously which also indicates warning to disaster preparedness. It is a continuous and integrated process resulting from a wide range of activities and resources rather than from a distinct sectoral activity by itself. Hence, it is necessary to incorporate Traditional Knowledge on early warning system into the current system in place.

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Sici (common name: univalves; scientific name: trochus nilotucus)  Signs/indicators of Sici - It is harder to pull as they are firmly stuck to the rocks. This is classified as a waitui or sea categories when sici or univalves is very hard to pull as they are firmly stuck to the rocks. Some of the reasons why warnings are ineffective or people do not respond in a timely way are economic factors, lack of understanding, experience that official warnings are not always reliable, inconsistencies in the warnings, and warnings coming from a single source only. Cyclones in particular are unpredictable in their behavior, and so official warnings are often considered unreliable. People need to trust in the warnings and in the need to act upon those warnings. Ancient early warning systems used by ancestors to predict an incoming natural disaster have been an integral part of saving lives long before the introduction of technology.

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Draunivudi (common name: plantain; scientific name: musa app) significance/indicators of draunivudi: Young shoot is bent before it flowers. The young shoot of the vudi or plaintain is bent before it flowers, this type of knowledge is often overlooked and undervalued as not being ‘scientific’, but rather inaccessible and different or difficult to deal with. However, natural warning signs are understood locally by people who may feel alienated from the scientific system, and give good lead times for preparation.

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Uto (common name: breadfruit; scientific name: artocarpus altilis) significance/indicators of uto: Bears more than three fruits in a branch. In a breadfruit tree which often bears more that three fruits in a branch which also been found to significantly enhance the ability to understand and interpret warning information. The usage of traditional knowledge leads to practical strategies that are accepted by local cultures and are therefore more likely to be sustained. The incorporation of traditional knowledge into warning systems has been recommended to increase perceptions of reliability and hopefully thus increasing responses.

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As food scarce after a cyclone, the bearing of more fruits and food before a cyclone is a way for the vanua to communicate with the iTaukei people to prepare in advance in terms of food security. ‘Best practices’ as related to Traditional Knowledge refer to examples and cases that illustrate the good use of Traditional Knowledge in developing sustainable survival strategies for the indigenous communities. These survival mechanisms have been used and transmitted from generation to generation by the respective communities.

PI00007302

The methods of traditional food preservation and preparation is vital in Disaster Risk Reduction. More so due to the villages accessibility after a cyclone. The Fiji Islands is made of tiny islands that are scattered around the main island and the furthest island only gets ship once or maybe twice a month in favorable weather. After a cyclone access to these islands may take over a week leaving the villagers vulnerable to food and water related disease. Most of the villages in the Fiji Islands are remotely located without proper access to road and by way of sea. This can be difficult especially after a cyclone. To sustain the victims during this period foods preserved the traditional way can assist. Such preservation methods include davuke, ika vesa, madrai vakaviti and kitu, to name a few. This method is beneficial as preserved food lasts more than a month if stored properly and not only immediate families are catered, the village can partake due to the quantity and quality of food.