What is “sand mining” and why is it bad for the environment? O.H., Via email. Sand mining, extracting sand from the earth, is the second most widespread human ...

From Shanghai to Seattle, the world’s cities are built on sand - massive amounts of sand. It’s in the cement and concrete that make the bulk of most buildings. The glass in those buildings’ windows is ...

Demand for sand has risen rapidly in recent decades, leading to overexploitation in some areas. The resource is particularly vulnerable to illegal mining given its seeming abundance. Extraction of ...

Rampant sand mining in the Mekong River is directly weakening critical seasonal river flows that sustain Southeast Asia’s ...