An interview with author and founder of SandStories, Kiran Pereira
February 3rd 2021. Melissa Sterry
Working at the interface of science, policy and industry, Kiran Pereira researches solutions to the global sand crisis. The founder of SandStories.org and author of Sand Stories: Surprising Truths about the Global Sand Crisis and the Quest for Sustainable Solutions, here she shares her thoughts on tackling this fast-growing problem…
MS: How did you first become aware of the urgent need to better manage our consumption of sand as a resource?
KP: I was born and raised in Bangalore in South India. Some of my earliest memories are about waking up at 3 am or so to help my family fetch water from a public tap. Water is a topic that is very dear to my heart. As I grew up, I constantly read newspaper reports about rivers being decimated due to illegal sand mining. At the same time, I witnessed a brisk trade in sand with hundreds of trucks on the road each day. All this sand was coming from ecologically sensitive areas. Yet, it was also essential for concrete. Concrete is made of 70-85% sand and gravel (by mass). I was always fascinated by this contrast. On the one hand, sand had become essential for “development” and on the other hand, it was destroying the environment and jeopardising the sustainability of the city itself.
MS: Can you describe some of the ways in which illegal sand mining adversely impacts on coastal, estuarine, and other environments where land and water bodies meet?
KP: Sand mining is the largest mining endeavour on the planet. Yet it remains unknown and one of the least regulated sectors in the world. Illegal sand mining can permanently alter landscapes and their ability to sustain life. Dredging sand from the bottom of water bodies removes the substrate which feeds microorganisms and all creatures that depend on them. The disturbance, noise and turbidity caused in the water changes the species that are able to survive in the region. Even those that are able to move away temporarily lose access to food sources, mating grounds and resting areas.
In Vietnam, for instance, Illegal sand mining, coupled with excessive pumping of groundwater is leading to saltwater intrusion (saltwater entering the freshwater system) and land subsidence. In many places, the supply of sand from rivers to the coast has been cut off due to the construction of dams upstream. Sea-level rise is a real and present danger for those who live in such areas.
We mustn’t assume that such problems only happen in far away places. For instance, in the UK, Lough Neagh is a Ramsar site (wetland site of international importance), SPA (Special Protection Area - safeguards the habitats of wild, threatened and migratory birds), ASSI (Area of Special Scientific Interest). Unlawful dredging began over 30 years ago and there has been much litigation in courts. But to cut to the chase, the activity was granted planning approval in October 2020. So the sand that is meant to be in this “protected area” is being turned into concrete blocks etc. Much food for thought there.
MS: How do the impacts of illegal sand mining adversely impact upon the communities that live and work in or near these environments?
KP: There are scores of examples. Illegal sand mining can affect the groundwater table because sand allows water to percolate to the deeper layers. For instance, one of the projects I carried out for Water Integrity Network and Sri Lanka Water Partnership documented how the groundwater table fell by 12-15 metres in some places and up to 30 metres in others. It caused failure of crops grown along riverbanks and drastic declines in coconut yields. Coconuts are a part of the staple diet for Sri Lankans and it is a very important smallholder crop. Tea and rubber plantations in sensitive areas were affected too. The greatest impact was felt by the women though. They usually carry the burden of care. Many had to walk several kilometres to fetch water for their households when they previously had easy access to it.
In Kenya and Uganda, children are dropping out of school to work as sand miners. Unlike education which is a long-term investment, this trade offers them a way to earn quick money. Their working conditions are dismal to say the least, but they usually make more money than their parents do through farming. While most young people get into this due to dire family circumstances, many choose to stay on and skip school.
Some countries have a ‘sand mafia’. These are ruthless gangs that kill people if they get in the way. India has a particularly serious problem. Regulations exist but enforcement mechanisms are either non-existent or are stymied by corruption and a strong builder-politician nexus.
MS: What do you think are the biggest obstacles to tackling the issue of illegal sand mining?
KP: In my view, a lack of awareness is the first obstacle. We seem to have built our cities and our lifestyles on this seemingly infinite but paradoxically finite resource. As consumers, we’re oblivious to it. We rarely talk about sand unless we’re planning a holiday by the beach (at least in pre-covid times). But I think as awareness increases, there will be a strong demand for change. We’ve seen it in other sectors. There’s a strong demand for responsibly sourced food, clothes and more.
There’s so much potential for change here. The built environment requires vast amounts of resources and accounts for about 50% of all extracted material. But it is largely built on a linear model of extraction, consumption and waste. In the EU, the construction sector is responsible for over 35% of the EU’s total waste generation. On a finite planet, such waste of resources just doesn’t make sense. We need a circular economy where the end of life is considered at the very design stage.
MS: What impact do you think technological innovations, such as satellite imaging, blockchain, artificial intelligence, may have on tackling the problem of unsustainable sand mining?
KP: I think each of these have a crucial role to play in curbing unsustainable sand mining. There are positive examples from many places too. For instance, The Comptroller and Auditor General of India is the country’s supreme audit institution. It monitors how various ministries function on the ground. It has begun to employ technology to assist with this function. In a 2017 report, they document how they used Google Earth to prove that mining plans in a particular state had been approved despite a discrepancy between the geo-coordinates of the mining plan and its environmental clearance. In another instance, they used drones to monitor a mining area and identify several discrepancies.
Technology can be enormously helpful in identifying problems, particularly in dangerous situations, but it would be naive to think that technology alone can save the day. What happens after we identify discrepancies? That’s where the rubber meets the road. For lasting change, we also need to address the cultural context and the regulatory, monitoring and enforcement systems in which such technology is embedded.
MS: Of the various alternatives to sand as a building material component, which excite you most and how do you think these materials may have impact over time?
KP: I’m excited about the innovation happening in the natural building sector. Straw bales are a fantastic building material with extremely low impact. They offer tremendous insulation and you don’t need to divert land away from food crops. Prefabricated modular panels are making such methods of construction much more accessible today. One community in Leeds has reduced its annual gas bills by nearly 90%, compared to the average for Leeds. Straw bale buildings have also proven incredibly resilient to earthquakes, hurricane force winds and wildfires. They have much to offer, especially in post-disaster reconstruction settings. I’m also slowly discovering the joys of rammed earth and cob construction. There is much we can learn from vernacular architecture.
MS: Which advances in recycling of aggregates and other building materials interest do you think present the most potential and why?
KP: In today’s context, there is ample evidence that it is possible to build well with recycled aggregates. There is no excuse for construction waste to be sent to the landfill unless it is contaminated of course. Even big players like LafargeHolcim see the potential. They have a small but rapidly growing entity within their organisation that only focuses on the production of high-quality recycled aggregates. In terms of the big picture, India is in the top 3 cement producers in the world. It is also one of the leading exporters of quarry products. The country has recently updated its building standards to allow for up to 20% of recycled aggregate in reinforced concrete applications. This is nowhere where it needs to be, but it can only grow in importance over the coming years.
MS: What steps do you think could help raise awareness of the problem of illegal sand mining and its impacts in the built environment industries?
KP: Building in traceability and accountability within supply chains is crucial. It’s not just about aggregates. We also need to consider the minerals extracted from sand that go into paints and other construction products and the sand that is used in foundries to mould molten metal for the built environment sector.
MS: Having championed the issue of illegal sand mining for several years, during which time you’ve published a dissertation, a website, and a book, what’s next and what can others do to help you in that endeavour?
KP: That is kind of you to ask. Thank you so much. I’d love help in promoting the book. This is a vastly underestimated threat to the global Sustainable Development Goals. I’ve not only tried my best to write in an engaging and accessible style, but I’ve also provided references for anyone who might be interested in delving deeper. Getting the book in the hands of anyone who is passionate about the environment would help tremendously. Readers can also read the book for free if they ask their local library to order it from their catalogue. We’re currently producing the audiobook version of the book. Once that is done, I intend to focus on registering a social enterprise that can address the problem at scale and I welcome anyone who can help with funding opportunities, contacts etc.
MS: The year is 2030. Systemic policy and wider failures have led to a worst-case sandscape [this is a reference to the places from which sand is being illegally mined] scenario. Describe what you see.
KP: I find such scenarios very demotivating. I don’t think we need to wait for 2030. Paying attention to what’s happening right now should be enough to spur us to action.
MS: Vice versa. The year is 2030. Describe what you think to be the best sandscape scenario?
KP: The best sandscape scenario would be where sand flows are not disturbed by dams or dredging. I see sandy habitats as safe spaces for turtles to nest, for seals to hang out and otters to play together. I see plenty of birds, because their habitat and food sources are protected. I see people thriving too. I see children playing and I hear their laughter. We’ve learned that we can easily build with alternate materials, preferably those that are renewable, locally available and can be reused and recycled. I see us nurturing our imagination, our sense of wonder and our ability to collaborate with each other as we adapt to what lies ahead. That’s the world I want to live in. That’s the world I want to work towards.
Read more about Kiran’s research here.
Images : Sand, sand quarrying, and sand mining, sourced from Unsplash.