Sand is essential to buildings and infrastructure, but taking it from rivers, coastlines and seabeds can damage the ecosystems and livelihoods that depend on it. The conflict is not that the planet is running out of every kind of sand; it is that rising demand can compete with the ecological work sand does where it naturally moves and settles.
Why is sand becoming a source of conflict?
Concrete, roads and other construction projects require large volumes of sand and gravel, commonly grouped as aggregates. But sand is not a uniform, interchangeable commodity: where it comes from, how it moves and what role it plays in a particular river, coast or marine environment all matter. Removing material from an active ecosystem can have costs that are not reflected in the price paid for construction supply.
The phrase “sand crisis” describes demand pressure, unsustainable extraction and shortages in particular places—not a proven worldwide shortage of every kind of sand. UNEP and the University of Geneva warned in 2019 that supplying the needs of a world of 10 billion people from terrestrial, riverine and marine environments would require effective policy, planning, regulation and management. Restrictions in one place can also shift sourcing elsewhere, making the issue cross-border as well as local. UNEP and University of Geneva, 2019 report.
UNEP’s 2026 report describes infrastructure demand as competing with the value of sand left in functioning ecosystems: “Demand therefore exists for sand in both its ‘dead’ and ‘alive’ states, but these uses are in direct competition.” UNEP, 12 May 2026.
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How much sand and gravel are being used?
Published figures show the scale of demand, but their scopes and years differ. They should not be read as a single, directly comparable time series.
| Source and year | Figure | What it describes |
|---|---|---|
| UNEP, 2019 | 40–50 billion tonnes per year | Estimated global demand for sand and gravel. The release also said demand had tripled over the preceding two decades; that is a retrospective statement, not a current growth rate. |
| UNEP, 2022 | 50 billion tons per year | A rounded estimate of annual sand and gravel use in the release. |
| UNEP, 2026 | 45% increase by 2060 | A forecast for demand for sand for buildings, not a measured increase already observed. |
Construction is therefore central to the demand picture, but aggregate demand alone does not explain where extraction is sustainable. The source landscape and the consequences of removing material matter too.
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Why can sand extraction harm people and ecosystems?
Sand can be part of the processes that maintain river channels, coastal protection and marine habitats. Removing it may alter those systems; the effects vary with the site, the extraction method and local conditions, so no single impact should be assumed at every location.
- Rivers: UNEP’s 2019 account links river aggregate extraction with pollution, flooding, falling water aquifers and worsening drought occurrence. These are reported risks, not a claim that every river extraction project produces each outcome. UNEP, 7 May 2019.
- Coasts and aquifers: UNEP identifies erosion, salination of aquifers and reduced protection from storm surges as risks where sand plays an active role in coastal systems. Removing beach sand can also threaten local tourism. UNEP, 26 April 2022; UNEP, 7 May 2019.
- Biodiversity and livelihoods: Extraction can damage biodiversity and affect fishing and other local livelihoods. UNEP’s 2019 release describes river and mangrove extraction reducing crab populations, with consequences for women who relied on crab collection. UNEP, 7 May 2019.
The risks are not only theoretical or confined to land-based extraction. UNEP reported in 2026 that about half of dredging companies were operating within Marine Protected Areas, accounting for 15% of the volume dredged. Those figures concern dredging companies and dredged volume; they do not describe all sand extraction. UNEP, 12 May 2026.
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What can governments and construction buyers do?
UNEP’s recommendations combine better knowledge of where extraction happens with rules that can be checked and alternatives that can reduce demand. For builders, responsible sourcing starts with knowing the origin and intended use of material; a lower-impact choice cannot be inferred from a product label alone.
Map sensitive places and track cumulative impacts
UNEP’s 2026 report calls for improved data, mapping and monitoring to identify areas of high ecological value and assess the combined effects of extraction. Such information helps decision-makers consider not just an individual permit, but the pressure created by multiple projects over time. UNEP, Sand and Sustainability: An Essential Resource for Nature and Development, April 2026.
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Make permits, approvals and financing transparent
Clear, public information about extraction permits, project approvals and financing flows can make decisions more accountable. UNEP also calls for coordinated governance across sectors and scales, because extraction, construction demand and environmental effects do not always fit within one administrative boundary. UNEP, 12 May 2026.
Reduce avoidable demand and consider other materials
UNEP points to demand reduction and circularity, including recycling construction and demolition material, as part of a broader response. It also identifies crushed rock and ore-sand from mining tailings as possible alternatives. These are options to evaluate, not universal drop-in replacements: suitability depends on the construction application and local circumstances. UNEP, 26 April 2022; UNEP, Sand and Sustainability: 10 Strategic Recommendations to Avert a Crisis, April 2022.
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Assess the whole sourcing decision
When comparing supply options, buyers and project teams can ask whether material is suitable for its intended use, where it comes from, what ecological and livelihood impacts may occur, how far it must travel, and whether sourcing claims can be verified through monitoring and enforcement. The cited UNEP sources support weighing these factors, but do not provide a universal ranking of alternatives.
What the “sand wars” really mean
The conflict is over how to meet real construction needs without treating functioning rivers, coasts and seabeds as limitless pits of raw material. Demand estimates underline the scale of the challenge; ecological mapping, accountable approvals, careful planning and less waste can help align supply decisions with the value of sand left in nature.
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