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Bangladesh, a riverine nation with rivers originating beyond its borders, experiences a climatic paradox characterized by excessive monsoon rainfall (June to September) and minimal precipitation during winter (December to February). This climatic duality leads to recurring hydrological disasters, including floods, river erosion, and droughts, causing substantial losses in agriculture, fisheries, navigation, ecology, and biodiversity. Effective water governance is imperative to mitigate these economic and environmental impacts. This study aims to evaluate Bangladesh’s current state of water governance and identify gaps in existing policies and regulations related to water resources management (WRM). It is achieved through a comprehensive review of existing laws, acts, regulations, and policies related to water governance. The study reveals that policy documents developed over the last three decades, aimed at enhancing water governance and reducing vulnerabilities to droughts, floods, and riverbank erosion, have identified only a limited number of critical policy gaps in WRM. The government should prioritize gradually decentralizing management policies to strengthen climate resilience in coastal regions. This research offers insights into improving water governance and WRM and contributes to reducing hydrological disasters in Bangladesh. Additionally, it provides valuable guidance for addressing challenges related to upstream transboundary rivers and formulating future strategies and action plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Remote sensing satellite imagery consistently provides valuable and frequent information, enabling the exploration of mineral resources across immense, remote and harsh domains. Recent developments in spaceborne hyperspectral remote sensing have opened avenues to support diverse remote sensing applications, particularly in the realm of mineral exploration. This study evaluates the capabilities of the PRecursore IperSpettrale della Missione Applicativa (PRISMA) hyperspectral satellite data for mapping alteration minerals using the Matched Filtering Unmixing (MFU) approach in the Sar-e-châh-e-shur, Birjand, Iran. Minerals such as richterite, augite, psilomelane, ilmenite, kaolinite, smectite, mirabilite, muscovite, and chlorite were identified using the vertex component analysis (VCA) technique. Subsequently, alteration mineral maps of the study area were generated using a matched filtering technique. Additionally, through the integration of X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, thin section examination, geochemical study of stream sediments, and interpretation of geological maps, potential alteration mineralization zones were delineated in the study area. Ultimately, the validation process, which included comparing the maps with the findings derived from the PRISMA remote sensing study, was conducted using the normal score equation. Thus, our results yielded a normalized score of 3.42 out of 4, signifying an 85.71% agreement with the regional geological characteristics of the study area. The results of this investigation highlight the substantial potential of the PRISMA dataset for systematic alteration mineral mapping and consequent exploration of ore minerals, specifically in challenging and inaccessible terrains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eastern Kerdous demonstrates a polymetallic hydrothermal activity due its association with a paleorelief area. This study focuses on generating a Mineral Potential Map based on Fuzzy Logic Modelling and HyMap-Based input layers. The Relative Absorption Band Depth, Directed Principal Component Analysis, Line Density, and Mixture Tuned Matched Filtering techniques were implemented to perform 20 thematic layers. As a result, three new prospective zones were identified. Fieldwork, petrography, and XRD analysis verified the remote sensing results. Finally, this investigation highlights the significant potential of HyMap imagery for mineral exploration in inaccessible and remote parts of the western Anti-Atlas belt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Target 14 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 14) depicts a better future regarding the capacity of coastal environments to cope with several developmental challenges. However, gaps in the data and indicators restrict the effective implementation of this global plan. In this context, under the umbrella of the Digital Belt and Road (DBAR) Program, the DBAR_COAST working group (WG) aims to solve the problems of coastal sustainable development along the Maritime Silk Road (MSR). This paper demonstrates the recent efforts of the DBAR_COAST WG to develop indicators based on Earth observation (EO) data (i.e. the natural coastal protection index (NCPI), the local proportion of habitats protected index (LPHPI), and the coastal eco-erosion index (CEEI)), which complement the existing indicators related to SDGs 14.2, 14.5 and 14.7. These indicators all satisfy indicative, robust, scientifically sound and accessible data principles. Based on them, both the coastal protection (NCPI = 0.97) and protected area coverage (LPHPI = 0.38) in the MSR still had much room for improvement in 2020, and pressure from aquaculture expansion (CEEI = 0.11) showed significant regionally spatial heterogeneity. These indicators serve to provide a guideline for indicator-based assessment in monitoring the progress toward achieving SDG 14. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]