Sea level rise (SLR) due to global climate change negatively impacts coastal zones, in particular wetland and mangrove ecosystems. Mangroves in the Mekong Delta (MD) in Vietnam provide critical ecosystem services in the region" however, escalated relative SLR is likely to affect all ecosystems in the region, with mangroves probably more vulnerable than others. Given the fact that documented information and studies on SLR impacts on mangroves are limited for the region, this study aims to investigate potential changes in mangrove distribution in response to future SLR scenarios in the coastal area in the south of the MD using the Sea Level Affects Marshes Model (SLAMM). Wetland maps for 2013 derived from Landsat 8 OLI sensor, digital elevation model (DEM), and localized site-specific parameters (i.e., subsidence/accretion, erosion, historic trend of SLR, and over-wash) were used as input for the SLAMM to simulate spatial distribution of mangroves under different relative SLR scenarios (i.e., RCP2.6, RCP4.5, RCP8.5, more extreme SLR), and surface elevation change (i.e., subsidence, stable, and accretion) scenarios by the year 2100. Simulation results show that the average annual mangrove losses are likely to be 0.54% and 0.22% for subsidence and stable scenarios, respectively. The findings demonstrate the considerable impacts of SLR on MD mangrove ecosystems and the strong influence of subsidence processes. Inundation was also identified as a main driver responsible for the mangrove loss by the end of this century. Our results are in agreement with findings of other studies at global scales and observed data at regional scales. The results also demonstrate the potential of the approach developed herein for simulating mangrove dynamics under future relative SLR scenarios in the region with acceptable accuracy. The findings from the present study are useful sources for development of proper strategies for minimizing the impacts of SLR on mangrove ecosystems and their vital associated services, to protect and conserve the mangrove ecosystems in the region.

Melaleuca wetland ecosystems play crucial roles in ecology and human livelihood, yet the ecosystems are vulnerable to climate change and relative sea-level rise (SLR) impacts. Documents and research on climate change and SLR impacts on coastal Melaleuca wetlands in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam, are currently limited. Therefore, the present study aimed to identify changes in habitat suitability for a coastal Melaleuca wetland species in response to different future climate change and SLR scenarios, in the West Sea of the Mekong Delta, with the aid of an ensemble species distribution model (SDM) and the Sea Level Affecting Marshes Model (SLAMM). Melaleuca species occurrence records, bioclimatic and eco-physiological variables were utilized to predict potential distribution of the species in response to current and future climate scenarios (i.e. RCP4.5 and 8.5) for the year 2070. Wetland maps for 2020, a digital elevation model (DEM) and localized site-specific parameters (i.e. historic trend of SLR, erosion, subsidence and overwash) were utilized as input data for SLAMM to simulate spatial distribution of Melaleuca/forested wetlands under the two SLR scenarios. The final habitat suitability for the Melaleuca wetland species was identified based on these two resultant datasets, climatic suitability and spatial distribution of the wetlands. Simulated results suggested mean losses in suitable habitat of 29.8% and 58.7% for stable and subsidence scenarios, respectively, for the year 2070 in comparison to the baseline scenario. SLR combined with considerable subsidence rate was suggested as one of the main drivers responsible for the habitat suitability loss. The findings obtained from the current work are useful sources for planning conservation areas for the Melaleuca wetlands, to protect and preserve the ecosystems and their important services under future climate and SLR scenarios.

The Mekong Delta (MD), Vietnam is a large tropical wetland important for commodity provision, water balance regulation, and biodiversity conservation. However, the delta is under severe fire risk due to prolonged drought and rising temperatures largely emanating from climatic change. Our study applied MODIS Terra land surface reflectance (MOD09A1), MODIS Terra land surface temperature (MOD11A2), and ASTER digital elevation model (DEM) to develop fire danger models to assess spatial patterns in fire danger in the MD. Four variables: Potential Surface Temperature (PST), Modified Normalized Difference Fire Index (MNDFI), Perpendicular Moisture Index (PMI) and Normalized Multiband Drought Index (NMDI), were extracted from the satellite products to develop the models using Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP) and weighted overlay methods to generate fire danger maps during the 2019 fire season. The models were validated using MODIS Terra and Aqua thermal anomaly product (MOD14), with overall accuracy of 84.13%. The result demonstrated that the model accurately estimates fire risk over the MD. The study also found that forests, especially Melaleuca wetland forests in U Minh wetlands, and agricultural land were under severe fire risk. The implication is that measures such as proper management of forests and agricultural activities for mitigating forest fires and integrated fire and water strategies for either fire risk mitigation or biodiversity conservation are necessary for sustainable management of the MD wetland.

Wetlands are important ecosystems that provide many critical services for ecology and human communities. In the Mekong Delta (MD), Vietnam, the combined effects of climate change and sea level rise (SLR) threaten coastal mangrove forest wetlands, while inland Melaleuca forest wetlands are affected by regional changes in climate. Hence, it is essential to understand the impacts of climate change and SLR on these wetlands, particularly on the dominant species, which are integral to the structure and function of each wetland type. However, future climate suitability for wetland species is not yet well documented and well researched for the region. Therefore, this study examines the potential impacts of climate change and SLR on the three dominant species of these wetland types, Avicennia alba (A. alba) and Rhizophora apiculata (R. apiculata) in coastal mangrove forest wetlands and Melaleuca cajuputi (M. cajuputi) in inland Melaleuca forest wetlands, utilizing an ensemble modelling approach. The species occurrence points, bioclimatic and eco-physiological variables were used to model habitat suitability for the three species under current and future climate scenarios, RCP4.5 and 8.5 for 2050 and 2070. The projected reduction in habitat suitability of A. alba, R. apiculata, and M. cajuputi by mean values of 27.9%, 28.7% and 30.0%, respectively by the year 2070 indicates the vulnerability of the wetland species to climate change impacts. Increases in temperature, and in seasonal variation in precipitation and temperature, and SLR were key driving factors responsible for the losses of suitable habitat. Our findings provide useful information and data sources for development of plans and strategies to protect and conserve the wetlands from future climate change impacts.

To protect their membership rights to social resources, services and benefits, Australian citizens constantly renegotiate and reconceptualize sociocultural and political parameters around who belongs as a rights-worthy member of their society. Popular culture has the potential to shape the social, cultural and political attitudes that underpin these considerations. Popular culture mediums such as film and television are visual and narrative devices that posit binaries such as good/bad, men/women, citizen/non-citizen and so on. In particular, the binary of good/bad acts as a discourse through which audiences develop an understanding of what actions and behaviours are considered socially and culturally acceptable, and what actions and behaviours are not. This article seeks to broaden understandings of popular culture's potential to influence how a society construes its social strictures around who is a member of the hegemonic group and who is the 'other'. It examines depictions of poor, vulnerable and homeless women characters in film that frame them as the monstrous 'other' and argues that these representations negatively impact the visibility of real women who are poor, vulnerable and homeless in Australia, within spaces of sociopolitical discourse. The ongoing repercussions of which, it is contended, are that the needs of this cohort are less visible to the governments and policymakers who are tasked with protecting them.

Coastal wetlands in the Mekong Delta (MD), Vietnam, provide various vital ecosystem services for the region. These wetlands have experienced critical changes due to the increase in regional anthropogenic activities, global climate change, and the associated sea level rise (SLR). However, documented information and research on the dynamics and drivers of these important wetland areas remain limited for the region. The present study aims to determine the long-term dynamics of wetlands in the south-west coast of the MD using remote sensing approaches, and analyse the potential factors driving these dynamics. Wetland maps from the years 1995, 2002, 2013, and 2020 at a 15 m spatial resolution were derived from Landsat images with the aid of a hybrid classification approach. The accuracy of the wetland maps was relatively high, with overall accuracies ranging from 86–93%. The findings showed that the critical changes over the period 1995/2020 included the expansion of marine water into coastal lands, showing 129% shoreline erosion" a remarkable increase of 345% in aquaculture ponds" and a reduction of forested wetlands and rice fields/other crops by 32% and 73%, respectively. Although mangrove forests slightly increased for the period 2013/2020, the overall trend was also a reduction of 5%. Our findings show that the substantial increase in aquaculture ponds is at the expense of mangroves, forested wetlands, and rice fields/other crops, while shoreline erosion significantly affected coastal lands, especially mangrove forests. The interaction of a set of environmental and socioeconomic factors were responsible for the dynamics. In particular, SLR was identified as one of the main underlying drivers" however, the rapid changes were directly driven by policies on land-use for economic development in the region. The trends of wetland changes and SLR implicate their significant effects on environment, natural resources, food security, and likelihood of communities in the region sustaining for the long-term. These findings can assist in developing and planning appropriate management strategies and policies for wetland protection and conservation, and for sustainable development in the region.