Finite sand resource needs better governance

Sand is an overlooked resource and is being depleted at an alarming rate. Improved management of sand extraction and consumption is imperative to protect sand resources and reduce the impacts of extraction.

Remarkably, sand is the second most-consumed resource on earth, surpassed only by water. From construction materials, such as concrete, to electronic products, such as phones, sand is widely used and builds the foundation for our cities, economies, and lives. Sand is abundant and is usually perceived to be an infinite resource. However, the rate of extraction currently exceeds the rate of natural renewal¹. Globally, 50 billion metric tons of sand are used every year², and the demand is still soaring. Governance of global sand resources is urgently needed to address the continued depletion of resources, as well as to mitigate the substantial environmental, ecological and societal impacts of unsustainable sand extraction.

Credit: Henri Martin / Alamy Stock Photo

Sand is one of the least regulated resources in many regions across the world². Most of the sand used for industry is sourced from rivers and lakes. The lack of governance and regulation on sand extraction and consumption has resulted in widespread over-exploitation of sand resources in these ecosystems. This has led to river erosion, biodiversity loss, salinization of river deltas, and increased flood risk for residents living along the rivers. In Sri Lanka, water salinization induced by sand extraction has not only affected the drinking water supply, but also led to a great reduction in crop productivity³. In some regions, illegal extraction of sand has even led to conflicts and wars, threatening local people’s lives and safety.

Understanding regional sand supply and demand is important for sustainable management of sand resources. In this issue, an Article by Wang et al. leveraged supply chain data and used material flow analysis to estimate the supply and demand of construction sand in China from 1995 to 2020. They found that China’s sand demand surged with economic growth and urbanization, increasing from 1.4 Gt per year in 1995 to 7.0 Gt per year in 2020. However, the supply of natural sand remained relatively stable during the study period. Manufactured sand, mainly produced from crushed rock, quarry stone, and tailings, supported most of the growth in sand demand. By 2020, manufactured sand accounted for 79% of the country’s total sand supply.

The growing supply of manufactured sand is a result of China’s increasing regulation of natural sand extraction and consumption. For example, sand extraction in the Yangtze River was banned in 2001, and from 2010, the country began promoting the use of manufactured sand for construction. The tightened environmental regulations for protecting human health and ecosystems may also have indirectly helped reduce irresponsible extraction activities. However, some freshwater ecosystems in China continue to be greatly affected by sand extraction. For example, Poyang Lake, the biggest lake in China and well known for its ecological importance, has suffered a severe decline in lake level after years of extensive extraction, and illegal sand mining on the lake continues despite being banned in 2008.

Globally, effective governance of sand resources faces many challenges due to a lack of knowledge, data and awareness². For example, we do not know how much sand is extracted every year globally, nor do we know how much is replenished through natural processes. We also do not fully understand the impacts of unsustainable sand extraction and have little knowledge about the long-term ecological consequences. Research on sand consumption and extraction is currently very limited, and consequently, policy to support responsible consumption and extraction is lacking.

Despite the systemic challenges facing sand governance, solutions are available for local authorities². For example, the demand for sand can be reduced through better urban planning and increasing the efficiency of sand usage in buildings⁴. Further reductions in sand demand can be achieved through increased recycling of sand-based materials and use of alternatives, such as manufactured sand. Strictly enforcing current environmental regulations on freshwater and coastal ecosystems can also reduce the impacts of sand extraction. Establishing an efficient sand management system takes time, but sand is being depleted quickly, and so both systemic and pragmatic solutions will be needed to achieve a sustainable future for global sand resources.