The calamity of eruptions, or an eruption of benefits? Mt. Bromo human–volcano system a case study of an open-risk perception

Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 15, 277–290, 2015 www.nat-hazards-earth-syst-sci.net/15/277/2015/ DOI:10.5194/nhess-15-277-2015:

This paper reports the findings on an investigation into why people actively choose to live with continued exposure to considerable hazard. The result shows that the interaction between humans and the volcanic environment at Bromo volcano is multifaceted and complex. The Tengger people choose – rather than being forced – to live with volcanic hazards. They are not only exposed to its negative consequence, but also enjoy benefits and opportunities of physical, spiritual and socio-cultural nature that arise within the human–volcanic system. It confirms five cultural adaptations as actual benefits originating from cultural life within the Bromo human– volcano system – these are heightened resilience and capacity to recover; attachment to place and hazard knowledge; source of social and moral order; means to frame and voice dissent; and catalyst for change processes. Following this perspective, the concept of risk itself must be revisited and expanded from a one-sided focus on hazardous processes to a more holistic view of risk that includes the various positive aspects that pertain to the entire system. The development of a generic human–volcanic system model could provide the basis for the development of an open-risk concept.

A field survey of the human–volcano interaction at Bromo Volcano was based on semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions. The recorded interviews were transcribed and analysed according to recurrent themes in the answers. Findings from field investigation were then confronted with previous existing concepts of human exposure to natural hazards.

License: Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 3.0)