This book explores the intricate challenges and potential solutions in managing transboundary rivers in South Asia, a densely populated and ecologically diverse region. It examines the significant impacts of the growing climate crisis, disaster risks, population growth, and socio-political conflicts on transboundary river basins, which pose substantial risks to large areas of the Global South. The book highlights the critical need for multi-sectoral, multi-disciplinary, and cross-country perspectives to formulate collaborative policies that support sustainable development goals. Through specific case studies, the book addresses hydro-politics and flood hazards in countries like India, China, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh.
Features
- Provides a holistic explanation of transboundary water governance and integrates perspectives from environmental science, geography, hydrology, political science, international relations studies, law, water governance and sociology
- Includes detailed case studies and practical examples from different countries to help understand theoretical concepts through real-world scenarios
- Utilizes advanced technologies such as machine learning, AI, and deep learning for data analysis and predictive modelling and provides cutting-edge tools for predicting water-related challenges and improving management strategies
- Incorporates spatial maps and geostatistical diagrams to visually enhance comprehension of complex data analysis and spatial relationships
- Features contributions by renowned scholars, policymakers, and practitioners in the field of water governance, providing cutting-edge research, expert analyses, and authoritative perspectives
Rivers Beyond Borders is an excellent reference for students, researchers, and academics in environmental science, geography, hydrology, political science, law, sociology, and South Asian studies; policymakers, government officials, and professionals in water resource management and international relations; and practitioners in non-governmental organizations (NGOs), international development agencies, and environmental advocacy groups.
Mehebub Sahana is a Leverhulme Fellow and Lecturer in GIS in the Department of Geography at The University of Manchester, UK. He is an environmental geographer with an interest in analysing land-use changes, and his work focuses on landscape alterations in the post-colonial era and their consequences for sustainability in developing countries. His current research interests include the transboundary river basin management, landscape ecology, socio-ecological resilience, hydro-climatic extremes, and the socio-political implications of land-use dynamics in the Global South.
Previously, he was a Lecturer at the Indira Gandhi Conservation Monitoring Centre (IGCMC), WWF-India, New Delhi. He is a highly cited, globally recognised researcher, and his work has been supported by projects funded by the Leverhulme Trust (UK, 2022-25), the International Science Partnership Fund (2024-25), the British Council (2025-26), and ICSSR, India. He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (UK) and a member of the British Academy Early Career Researcher Network. He actively engages with public and policy audiences through opinion pieces, editorials, and commentary in various media outlets.
