Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge Vol. 10 (1), January 2011, pp. 198-206 Traditional knowledge of natural disaster mitigation and ethno medicine practices in Himalaya with special reference to Sikkim Varun Joshi 1* , MS Rawat 2 , AK Sharma 2 , K Kumar 3 & AK Panda 4 1 University School of Environment Management, GGS Indraprastha University, Sector-16 C, Dwaraka, New Delhi-75, 2 G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment & Development, Sikkim Unit, Post Box-24, Gangtok-Sikkim, 3 G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment & Development, Kosi-Katarmal, Almora, 4 Aurveda Regional Research Institute, Tadong, Gangtok-Sikkim E-mail: varunj63@gmail.com Received 01.10.2010; revised 25.01.2011 Indigenous knowledge refers to the age old refined methods and practices developed by previous numerous generations from an advanced understanding of the local environment, to save their belongings and lives from any future natural disaster. The local people observe signs in the environment which allow them to take precautions before a disaster occurs. This knowledge contains several other important characteristics which distinguish it from other types of knowledge. All such knowledge include evolved within the community, maintaining a non-formal means of dissemination, collectively owned, developed over several generations and subject to adaptation, and imbedded in a community’s way of life as a means of survival. Survival strategy of the masses has led to the evolution of area specific, locally pertinent and effective ways of mitigating natural disasters. This vital knowledge base practices are however often ignored and due recognition and importance have not been given, hence being eroded with the time. This paper highlights the relevance of cost affective traditional practices and acceptable means of mitigating disasters by the local communities. The paper is based upon the extensive field studies, discussions held with local populace conducted in different phases for use of the traditional disaster mitigation and medicinal plants practices of the people during disaster in the remote study area. The paper discusses the relevance of the various traditional disaster mitigation practices of the region. Studies show that the understanding was fairly evolved in the respective areas of natural disaster like earthquake, landslide and drought mitigation. The major medical problems in disaster are massive causalities, bleeding, loss of consciousness, pain, swelling, Joint dislocation and bone fractures. Eight medicinal plants are indigenously used in these purposes in the remote area during disaster till they receive any modern medical aid. Keywords: Natural Disaster, Ethno medicine, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Traditional knowledge IPC Int. Cl. 8 : E04H 9/16; E04H 9/00; G01W 1/14; G01W; A01D 20/10; A01D 20/47; A01D 12/23; A01D 17/07; A01D 12/08; A01D 1/68; A01D 9/02 India is one of the most disaster prone country of the world, vulnerable to almost all natural and man made disasters. About 85% area is vulnerable to one or another disaster and about 57% area is in high seismic zone including the capital of our country. Disaster prevention involves engineering intervention in buildings and structures to make them strong enough to withstand the impact of natural hazards or to impose restrictions on land use so that the exposure of the society to the hazard situation is avoided or minimized. Bureau of Indian Standards has rendered invaluable service by producing large number of national standards, which are of direct relevance to the construction of buildings in different locations of the country in view of the mitigation of earthquake disaster. The northward drift of the Indian Plate makes Himalayas highly prone to earthquake and landslide. In northwest Himalayan region three earthquakes, known to have occurred in the historical past (between 1800 to 1841) 1 . The earthquake on 1 September 1803 is assessed to have occurred near Uttarakashi with intensity IX and magnitude >8. The earthquake caused 200-300 death in Garhwal and Kumaon regions, houses were completely destroyed. Badrinath temple was severely damaged and the upper portion of Qutab minar in Delhi was also damaged 2 . This earthquake ultimately resulted into the invasion of Garhwal and Kumaon by Napalese at the worst junction of fate. The 1809 earthquake in Joshimath had intensity VIII, which caused landslide to block the Bishnu Ganga river. The Shillong Plateau earthquake of 12 June 1897, magnitude (M) 8.7 was a great earthquake for North east region, felt in all the places and damage also —————— * Corresponding author