The case of sand. Aurora TORRES, Jodi BRANDT & Kristen LEAR

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Martha Banks
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1 TELECOUPLINGS OF LIMITED RESOURCES: The case of sand Aurora TORRES, Jodi BRANDT & Kristen LEAR

2 Steffen, W., Broadgate, W., Deutsch, L. et al The Anthropocene Review, 2,

3 Roads and infrastructure proliferating Accelerating human impacts Distance (km) Torres et al. Assessing large-scale wildlife responses to human infrastructure development. Under review in PNAS

4 Effects of infrastructure on wildlife, landscape What about the resources used for development?

5 URBAN GROWTH & EXPANDING TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE Concrete, glass, asphalt

9 Trade value ($US billion) Net weight (million Tones)

10 Challenges Dispersed pieces of research from different topics and disciplines No synthesis of information

11 TELECOUPLING FRAMEWORK Overarching Objective: Develop a comprehensive strategy for the sustainable production of the ever-increasing amounts of sand that our world requires

12 Specific research questions 1) Where are the conflicts among sand mining occurring? 2) What are the major sending & receiving s of sand? 3) What are the main components of telecoupled s involving sand mining and trade?

13 1) Conflict spots (Raids, protests, gangs, and murders) India Adam Ferguson

14 Sand importers = receiving s Singapore Canada Japan Mexico Italy Switzerland Rep. of Korea Belgium United Arab Emirates Hong-Kong 2) Sending and Receiving Systems Bulgaria Saudi Arabia South Africa Ukraine Viet Nam Egypt Netherlands Australia Germany USA Sand exporters = sending s Net importers and exporters of sand (Million US$) 300 From UN Comtrade database (SITC Rev Natural sands of all kinds whether or not coloured)

15 Sending 3) Components Receiving natural human natural human $$$

17 The World DUBAI The Palm

19 Sending s Malaysia Vietnam Cambodia Myanmar Indonesia Philippines SINGAPORE

20 Sending natural human Receiving natural human - Decrease water quality & clarity - Coastal or river bank erosion - River and sea bed degradation

21 Sending natural human Receiving natural human - Water quality advisories - Beach closings - Negative impact on fishing - Geopolitical conflicts

22 Sending natural human Receiving natural human - Reduce distribution of coral reefs and mudflats

23 Sending natural human Receiving natural human - Geopolitical conflicts + Development projects + Increased number of jobs

24 SHANGHAI

25 Banned local sand mining

26 400 miles from Shanghai

27 December 1995

28 December 2013 Image of the Day March 17, km Sand dredging Gan River Sand dredging Sand dredging

29 Poyang Lake Largest freshwater body in China 98% of endangered Siberian Cranes and Oriental White Storks

from less predictable sand transportation + Economic

30 Sending natural human Receiving natural human - Seasonal - water Damages fluctuations to bridges from less predictable sand transportation + Economic prosperity - Low water events - Effects on endangered species

32 CARIBBEAN ISLANDS

34 Degrades beaches = bad for tourism!

35 Key Findings Four main causes of sand telecouplings: 1. Urban growth 2. Land scarcity 3. Coastal erosion and tourism 4. Energy production New telecouplings created by: Uneven distribution of appropriate types of sand Exhaustion of local sand resources Regulations/banning of sand mining in local areas

36 Moving Forward Quantify the extent to which the exportation of sand is a driver of environmental degradation Investigate synergies with other sustainability challenges Identify tools & opportunities to intervene in the s in order to promote a sustainable use of sand and achieve conservation goals

Aurora Torres @aurora_torresm aurora.torres@mncn.csic.es Kristen Lear @BatsForLife klear@uga.

37 Aurora Kristen The increasing demand for sand will likely increase conflicts and potentially lead to a tragedy of the sand commons

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