Haulle, Evaristo2021-02-022021-02-022007Haulle, E ( 2007 ) The role of traditional environmental knowledge systems in earthquake disaster management in Ludewa district, Masters dissertation, University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaamhttp://41.86.178.5:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/14621Available in print form, Dr Wilbert Chagula library, EAF collection, Class mark (THS EAF QE 533.T34H38 )This study explored the role of traditional environmental knowledge systems in earthquake disaster management in Ludewa district in Tanzania. The study employed the Disaster Crunch model as conceptual framework that explains the occurrence of disasters in holistic way. Various methods were employed in collection of data such as semi structured questionnaire, interviews, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), public hearings and field observations. It was found out that the local communities had vast knowledge through which disaster risk and vulnerability were reduced. The communities were aware of the earthquake as they identified it by their local/ tribal names. They also were capable to identify tsunami in the Lake Nyasa that caused the widespread destruction of resources and malfunctioning of the society. The local communities had their own mechanisms to withstand the quakes. The mechanisms were structural designs that included construction of wide and short wall houses. Non structural measures were spatial allocation of houses guided by traditions in the same way they were relatively safe from tremors. It was found out that the activities in post disaster phase were weak compared to the pre disaster phase. It was also found that TEKS was better established in the area than Modern Environmental Knowledge Systems (MEKS). The latter was also observed to be unable to compliment TEKS in disaster planning and management as a whole. It was concluded that TEKS played an important role in reducing the community vulnerability and risk to the earthquake disaster in spite of being ignored by MEKS. It was recommended that a bottom-up cum top-down approach that intricately integrates available TEKS and MEKS is capable of reducing the risk and vulnerability to disasters and promoting sustainable development.enEarthquakesNatural disastersEnviromental managementLudewa districtTanzaniaThesis