BGS contributes to UN sand and sustainability report

Sand is the most extracted solid material on Earth (currently 50 billion tonnes annually). Rapid urbanisation, driven by large-scale migration into cities, has fuelled a growing need for sand as a building material, with demand expected to rise by 45 per cent by 2060.

Due to this rise in demand, sand mining has increased across the globe, often including unregulated and illegal operations. Extraction is now occurring faster than the rate of natural replenishment, a process that can take thousands of years. This is known as the ‘sand gap’.

While sand mining on a local scale can provide employment and  raw materials needed for development, the sheer scale of extraction in many parts of the world has considerable, cumulative, negative environmental effects if it is not carefully managed. 

Sand used for construction in many countries is often sourced from rivers and marine environments; however, sand also plays an essential role within these natural systems, supporting biodiversity and providing resilience to erosion and flooding.  The value of sand in these environments needs to be carefully balanced against its value as a material for development.

To outline this escalating risk, a new UN Environment Programme (UNEP) report, with contributions from BGS geoscientists, has been released. ‘Sand and sustainability: an essential resource for nature and development’ highlights the risk posed to both on and offshore areas affected by sand mining. It also urges governments, policymakers and industry to recognise sand’s essential value, strengthen policy frameworks and apply early and coordinated interventions on sand sustainability.  The report presents 24 strategic actions that governments, industry, financial institutions and civil society can take to better safeguard sand resources.

The report, co-written by 27 experts from across the world, concludes with actionable policy measures and a sand assessment tool to support more sustainable sand management at local, regional and national levels.

This timely report and its accompanying tool highlight the global significance of sand mining while outlining the challenges and risks faced by the sector. We hope that this report will serve as a catalyst for policymakers, encouraging the development and application of more robust governance of sand mining. At the same time, the report aims to improve public understanding of the true value of sand. Ultimately, it should support the adoption of appropriate alternatives, reduce consumption and minimise the negative impacts associated with sand extraction.

Tom Bide, minerals geoscientist at BGS and report co-author.

Read the full UNEP report here

Further reading

• Living in a world made of sand
• Good practice for sand mining
• BGS ArcGIS StoryMap Sand & Sustainability