Building resilience: Insights into ecosystem-based integrated environmental risk reduction approaches for urban environments in coastal Bangladesh
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
9-1-2024
Abstract
The intricate relationship between environmental quality, ecosystem services, and human wellbeing underscores the importance of understanding and addressing environmental complexities. Considering these issues, this research aims to propose ecosystem-based approaches for mitigating environmental risks within the Khulna City Corporation (KCC) area, while also elucidating the connection between ecosystem services and these risks. By doing so, it indirectly addresses disaster risk reduction approaches, acknowledging the relationship between environmental degradation and increased disaster occurrences. Leveraging multi-spectral Landsat images from 2001 (Landsat-5), 2011 (Landsat-5), and 2021 (Landsat-8), the study evaluates LULC dynamics and quantifies ecosystem service values (ESVs) using the Benefit Transfer Method. Additionally, seven key indicators, including land use-based carbon emissions, elevation, LST, NDVI, NDWI, NDSI, and NDBI, were analyzed to monitor spatiotemporal changes. The weighted overlay method was employed to integrate raster data and delineate environmental risk zones driven by deteriorating ESVs in KCC. Notably, the study reveals a significant increase in highly environmental risk areas from 7 % to 34 % and a decrease in medium-risk areas from 92 % to 60 % of the total area between 2001 and 2021 due to the decline in ecosystem services resulting from unplanned rapid urbanization. Furthermore, a moderate negative correlation (R2 values of 0.56, 0.67, and 0.69) between ESVs and the environmental risk index underscores the linkage between deteriorating ecosystem services and the expansion of high-risk zones. Furthermore, this study advocates policies such as drought-resistant tree plantations, community involvement, post- disaster resource provision, funding allocation, and stakeholder knowledge dissemination to enhance the resilience of KCC.
Keywords
City, Climate change, Disaster, Ecosystem services, Environmental risk, Green infrastructures, Resilience
Divisions
BuiltEnvironment
Funders
Khulna University of Engineering Technology
Publication Title
International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction
Volume
111
Publisher
Elsevier
Publisher Location
RADARWEG 29, 1043 NX AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS