Vanishing Sands

August 22, 2022
Pilkey (Sea Level Rise), professor of Earth and Ocean studies at Duke University, joins with fellow researchers Norma J. Longo, William J. Neal, Nelson G. Rangel-Buitrago, Keith C. Pilkey, and Hannah L. Hays for this deeply informative look at the environmental effects of the overmanagement of beaches and the misuse of sand. “Beaches and coastal dunes are among the most dynamic of nature’s environments,” they write, and humans have sought to control them since as early as the Neolithic period. As global seaside construction has boomed, demand for high-quality sand for concrete has increased with it. Though illegal in most places, the authors show mining sand from beaches as an increasingly big business with dire effects, impacting local economies, water quality, and natural storm protection. The authors trace the history of sand in the global economy, examine the flow of sand in nature, and explore global examples of abuse, including “sand bandits” in Singapore, illegal sand mining in Puerto Rico, and even the murder of an environmental activist in Mexico working to curtail sand extraction. The authors combine their enthralling case studies with actionable suggestions: governments should buy coastal lands “to create management units,” for instance. Beachgoers, policymakers, and builders alike will find something to consider in this shocking study.