Global Map Reveals Alarming Scale of Sand Mining Crisis
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has warned that the extraction of sand from marine environments is reaching unsustainable levels, with an average of 6 billion tons of sand being dredged annually. This excessive sand mining is driven by the demand for concrete, glass, and artificial shorelines, putting immense pressure on marine life and coastal communities. UNEP's data platform, Marine Sand Watch, utilizes artificial intelligence and vessel tracking to monitor sand mining globally. China and the East Coast of the US are identified as areas with intense sand dredging, which could impact renewable energy projects like offshore wind turbines.