The Kulpawn River Basin(KRB)plays a critical role in supporting rural livelihoods through agriculture,water supply,and biodiversity conservation.However,between 1995 and 2023,significant land use and land cover(LULC)c...The Kulpawn River Basin(KRB)plays a critical role in supporting rural livelihoods through agriculture,water supply,and biodiversity conservation.However,between 1995 and 2023,significant land use and land cover(LULC)changes have been observed,affecting ecosystem services(ESs).This study evaluated the ecosystem service values(ESVs)associated with LULC changes.The random forest algorithm was applied to extract LULC information from Landsat images for 1995,2005,2015,and 2023.The benefit transfer method was employed to estimate the ESVs over the study period.Questionnaires were also used to assess the views of respondents on the drivers of the ES changes in the basin.The results showed that agricultural lands expanded by 14.14%,built-up areas by 15.17%,and light savannah forest by 8.73%,while dense savannah forest and water bodies declined by 25.71%and 20.00%,respectively.The total estimated ESV was 410.09×10^(8),362.92×10^(8),335.30×10^(8),and 319.28×10^(8) USD/(hm^(2)·a)in 1995,2005,2015,and 2023,respectively,indicating that the total ESV declined from 410.09×10^(8) USD/(hm^(2)·a)in 1995 to 319.28×10^(8) USD/(hm^(2)·a)in 2023.The study concludes that the reduction in ESVs is due to the LULC changes resulting from agricultural activities,expansion of built-up areas,population sprawl,and artisanal mining activities.Hence,there is an urgent need to develop programs and strategies to mitigate and curtail the degradation of LULC and ESVs in the basin.These findings reveal a growing ecological vulnerability,threatening water security and rural livelihoods.The study offers valuable insights to guide sustainable land use planning and ecosystem conservation strategies.展开更多
Recent advancements in person-portable instrumentation have resulted in the potential to provide contemporaneous results through rapid in-field analyses.These technologies can be utilised in emergency response scenari...Recent advancements in person-portable instrumentation have resulted in the potential to provide contemporaneous results through rapid in-field analyses.These technologies can be utilised in emergency response scenarios to aid first responders in appropriate site risk assessment and management.Large metropolitan fires can pose great risk to human and environmental health due to the rapid release of hazardous compounds into the atmosphere.Understanding the release of these hazardous organics is critical in understanding their associated risks.Person-portable gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS)was evaluated for its potential to provide rapid on-site analysis for real-time monitoring of hazardous organic compounds at fire scenes.Air sampling and analysis methods were developed for scenes of this nature.Controlled field testing demonstrated that the portable GC-MS was able to provide preliminary analytical results on the volatile organic compounds present in air samples collected from both active and extinguished fires.In-field results were confirmed using conventional laboratory-based air sampling and analysis procedures.The deployment of portable instrumentation could provide first responders with a rapid on-site assessment tool for the appropriate management of scenes,thereby ensuring environmental and human health is proactively protected and scientifically informed decisions are made for the provision of timely advice to stakeholders.展开更多
Building and factory fires pose a great risk to human and environmental health,due to the release of hazardous by-products of combustion.These hazardous compounds can dissipate into the environment through fire water ...Building and factory fires pose a great risk to human and environmental health,due to the release of hazardous by-products of combustion.These hazardous compounds can dissipate into the environment through fire water run-off,and the impact can be immediate or chronic.Current laboratory-based methods do not report hazardous compounds released from a fire scene at the time and location of the event.Reporting of results is often delayed due to the complexities and logistics of laboratory-based sampling and analysis.These delays pose a risk to the health and wellbeing of the environment and exposed community.Recent developments in person-portable instrumentation have the potential to provide rapid analysis of samples in the field.A portable gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer(GC-MS)was evaluated for the on-site analysis of water samples for the identification of hazardous organic compounds at fire scenes.The portable GC-MS was capable of detecting and identifying a range of volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds in fire water run-off,and can be used in conjunction with conventional laboratory analysis methods for a comprehensive understanding of hazardous organics released at fire scenes.Deployment of this portable instrumentation provides first responders with a rapid,on-site screening tool to appropriately manage the run-off water from firefighting activities.This ensures that environmental and human health is proactively protected.展开更多
基金financial assistance from the European Union(Contract number:AFS2023/444-387)。
文摘The Kulpawn River Basin(KRB)plays a critical role in supporting rural livelihoods through agriculture,water supply,and biodiversity conservation.However,between 1995 and 2023,significant land use and land cover(LULC)changes have been observed,affecting ecosystem services(ESs).This study evaluated the ecosystem service values(ESVs)associated with LULC changes.The random forest algorithm was applied to extract LULC information from Landsat images for 1995,2005,2015,and 2023.The benefit transfer method was employed to estimate the ESVs over the study period.Questionnaires were also used to assess the views of respondents on the drivers of the ES changes in the basin.The results showed that agricultural lands expanded by 14.14%,built-up areas by 15.17%,and light savannah forest by 8.73%,while dense savannah forest and water bodies declined by 25.71%and 20.00%,respectively.The total estimated ESV was 410.09×10^(8),362.92×10^(8),335.30×10^(8),and 319.28×10^(8) USD/(hm^(2)·a)in 1995,2005,2015,and 2023,respectively,indicating that the total ESV declined from 410.09×10^(8) USD/(hm^(2)·a)in 1995 to 319.28×10^(8) USD/(hm^(2)·a)in 2023.The study concludes that the reduction in ESVs is due to the LULC changes resulting from agricultural activities,expansion of built-up areas,population sprawl,and artisanal mining activities.Hence,there is an urgent need to develop programs and strategies to mitigate and curtail the degradation of LULC and ESVs in the basin.These findings reveal a growing ecological vulnerability,threatening water security and rural livelihoods.The study offers valuable insights to guide sustainable land use planning and ecosystem conservation strategies.
基金This project has been assisted by the New South Wales Government through its Environmental Trust[grant number 2015/RD/0156].
文摘Recent advancements in person-portable instrumentation have resulted in the potential to provide contemporaneous results through rapid in-field analyses.These technologies can be utilised in emergency response scenarios to aid first responders in appropriate site risk assessment and management.Large metropolitan fires can pose great risk to human and environmental health due to the rapid release of hazardous compounds into the atmosphere.Understanding the release of these hazardous organics is critical in understanding their associated risks.Person-portable gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS)was evaluated for its potential to provide rapid on-site analysis for real-time monitoring of hazardous organic compounds at fire scenes.Air sampling and analysis methods were developed for scenes of this nature.Controlled field testing demonstrated that the portable GC-MS was able to provide preliminary analytical results on the volatile organic compounds present in air samples collected from both active and extinguished fires.In-field results were confirmed using conventional laboratory-based air sampling and analysis procedures.The deployment of portable instrumentation could provide first responders with a rapid on-site assessment tool for the appropriate management of scenes,thereby ensuring environmental and human health is proactively protected and scientifically informed decisions are made for the provision of timely advice to stakeholders.
基金This project has been assisted by the New South Wales Government through its Environmental Trust[grant number 2015/RD/0156].
文摘Building and factory fires pose a great risk to human and environmental health,due to the release of hazardous by-products of combustion.These hazardous compounds can dissipate into the environment through fire water run-off,and the impact can be immediate or chronic.Current laboratory-based methods do not report hazardous compounds released from a fire scene at the time and location of the event.Reporting of results is often delayed due to the complexities and logistics of laboratory-based sampling and analysis.These delays pose a risk to the health and wellbeing of the environment and exposed community.Recent developments in person-portable instrumentation have the potential to provide rapid analysis of samples in the field.A portable gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer(GC-MS)was evaluated for the on-site analysis of water samples for the identification of hazardous organic compounds at fire scenes.The portable GC-MS was capable of detecting and identifying a range of volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds in fire water run-off,and can be used in conjunction with conventional laboratory analysis methods for a comprehensive understanding of hazardous organics released at fire scenes.Deployment of this portable instrumentation provides first responders with a rapid,on-site screening tool to appropriately manage the run-off water from firefighting activities.This ensures that environmental and human health is proactively protected.
