hazards and mitigate their impacts. Traditional
ceremonies and rituals based on respect for nature
are practised to stop heavy rainfall and storms, and
rituals to stop rain (Queror in Lau-Hata, Liquiça or
Bare-Bare in Maluru-Beaço, Viqueque) are performed.
Customary laws (Tara Bandu) related to conservation
of the environment and the management of natural
resources play important roles in preventing and
mitigating landslides and floods. These beliefs, rituals,
and laws help reduce communities’ vulnerability to
hydro-meteorological hazards and climate change,
because they engender and reinforce respect for the
environment and strengthen social relationships.
Thus, strengthening existing local and indigenous
knowledge by combining it with scientific
information will enable communities to be even
better prepared for hydro-meteorological hazards
and climate change. LINK combined with science
will result in local and context-specific information,
education and communication materials, action
and adaptation plans. This is particularly important
considering the cultural and linguistic diversity of
Timor-Leste, as well as the fact that when a disaster
strikes, a rapid government response is unlikely. It
is, therefore, all the more important to develop
Figure 2.3.2: Traditional house in Raimea Village, Covalima, Timor-Leste, with Ai Tatan to clamp the roof from
storms and strong winds, and Lenik to prevent strong winds from entering the house.
local strategies to help communities develop their
own means of predicting and dealing with hazards,
disasters, and climate change impacts.