![]() Removal like this is happening around the world to feed construction. ![]() That means ocean water is heading inland and bringing salt-water crocodiles with it. One example is a Sri Lankan river where sand removal reversed the water flow. ![]() Environment Programme) “It’s renewing at a geological rate, and we are extracting it at such a fast rate.” Let’s take a look at what is causing the damage and where.Sand is the most exploited natural resource in the world after water.It's used in glass, concrete and constriction materials but it's use is largely ungoverned, meaning we are consuming it faster than it can be replaced by geological processes that take hundreds of thousands of years.Global consumption has tripled over two decades to reach 50 billion tonnes a year - that's the equivalent of about 37 pounds per person each day.Sand extraction is harming rivers, coastlines and could even wipe out small islands. They’ve called for urgent action to avert it, including a ban on mining beaches for their sand. STORY: The world faces a looming sand crisis, the UN has warned as the world’s population surges.
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