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At this time in Indonesia, much illegal sand mining is negatively impacting the environment. One area where many Illicit mining activities are found is the Gantar area and its surroundings, West Java Province. Sand mining activities using an open pit mining system. The open pit mining system degrades soil quality by mining sand. This study uses laboratory analysis by measuring the physical, chemical, and mineralogy of soils. The purposive sampling method is used to sample post-mining ex-sand mining soil samples in Gantar District, West Indramayu Regency, West Java Province. Physical soil quality measurement is characterized by increased bulk density, particle density, fine fractions (clay and silt), and decreased porosity and permeability. Chemical examination showed a decrease in C-organic, N-organic, P, and K concentrations (available) and base saturation; however, the CEC level increased. The results showed that sand mining activities have degraded soil quality in the former sand mining area in Gantar District, West Java, Indonesia. This research makes a major contribution to policymakers to pay attention to post-mining activities so that the decline in soil quality can be avoided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dongting Lake is the second largest freshwater lake in China, located in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River. Since the 21st century, it has faced intensified human activities, particularly the Three Gorges Dam impoundment and sand mining. The water quality of Dongting Lake has significantly changed due to human activities and climate change. Currently, quantitative studies on the spatial–temporal variations of total suspended matter (TSM) during Dongting Lake's dry season and the human impacts on its concentration are lacking. This study utilizes Landsat-5 TM and Landsat-8 OLI data to estimate the changes in TSM concentration during the dry season from 1986 to 2021, analyzing their spatial–temporal variations and driving mechanisms. By evaluating the atmospheric calibration accuracy and model precision metrics, we select a model based on the ratio of red to green band, achieving an R 2 of 0.84, R M S E of 18.94 mg/L, and M R E of 27.32%. Applying this model to the images, we map the distribution of the TSM concentration during the dry season from 1986 to 2021, analyzing its spatial pattern and inter-annual variation, and further investigate the impacts of natural factors and human activities on the TSM concentration. Our results show the following: (1) From 1986 to 2021, the TSM concentration during the dry season ranges from 0 to 200 mg/L of Dongting Lake, with an area-wide average value between 41.61 and 75.44 mg/L. (2) The TSM concentration from 1986 to 2021 is significantly correlated with the water level. Before 2006, it correlates positively, but no significant correlation exists from 2006 onward. (3) From 2006 onward, the mean TSM concentration is notably decreased compared to that before 2006, likely due to the Three Gorges Dam, while our analysis indicates a significant positive correlation between the TSM concentration and sand mining intensity during this period. This study highlights the influence of the Three Gorges Dam and sand mining on the TSM concentration in Dongting Lake during the dry season, providing valuable insights for related research on similar lakes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Poyang Lake is a dynamic floodplain lake system that exhibits complex water level fluctuations and experiences significant regime changes over space and time, which remains to be further explored. This study used the variational mode decomposition (VMD) model to decompose the Poyang Lake's water levels from 1960 to 2022 at four key stations into six intrinsic mode functions (IMFs), namely IMF1–IMF6, representing variations on different time scales. The results present significant spatiotemporal heterogeneity. The multi‐year variation (IMF1) accounts for 5.6%–12.4% of the total variation and displays a northward decreasing trend, reflecting the lake's river‐like characteristics. The spectrum of IFM1 also reveals a significant 3.6‐year fluctuation mainly attributed to the tributary inflow, especially the Ganjiang River. The IMF1 differences between stations show abrupt decreases since the 2000s, indicating the impact of concentrated sand mining activities on the northern and central regions. The annual variation (IMF2) is the most prominent, contributing 76.1%–88.4% of the total variation, and shows a southward attenuation trend, likely due to the weakening influence of the Yangtze River flow. The intra‐annual scale (IMF3–IMF6) represents 6.0%–11.5% of the total variation and exhibits less spatial difference compared to the multi‐year and annual variations. The VMD model effectively separates the water level signals into different frequency bands, providing insights into the complex interactions between the lake, tributaries, and Yangtze River, as well as the impacts of human activities like sand mining, enhancing understanding of floodplain lake dynamics. The results also imply the importance of coping with the water level decline of Poyang Lake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past decade, during the tenure of President Joko Widodo, West Papua has undergone a process that Jason and Michael (2019) describe as a “recurring frontier”, whereby frontiers emerge, evolve and are continually redefined. The situation there is exemplified by a number of intertwined “frontier indicators”, which in this article are focused on military threats, the corrupt bureaucracy surrounding infrastructure and the environmental disasters of deforestation and flooding. The paper is based on reflections from fieldwork in Sorong greater area (Sorong Raya) between 2019 and 2023. It indicates several developments occurring at the micro level in Sorong including the history of threats and violence that have created frontiers and overlapping bureaucratic governance, resulting in urban environmental degradation. The creation of frontiers for Papuans is not only currently underway but is also envisioned as a future project to be developed across Papua. Reflecting on this specific case in Sorong, West Papua, it is anticipated that frontier areas will emerge throughout Papua in the future.

Abstract The present work investigates the combined effects of the upstream sediment mining pit and vegetation on the riverbank using emergent rigid vegetation beyond the toe on the flow structure and morphological changes due to fluvial erosion. A steep gradient of streamwise velocity and other turbulence parameters such as Reynolds shear stress (RSS), transverse RSS, and turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) at the interface of the vegetated and unvegetated part of the test segment was observed. The cross-sectional analysis showed that vegetation increased the velocity of the unvegetated main channel, and the sandpit increased even the near-bed velocity with a similar trend in its longitudinal variation at the center line of the main channel. The abrupt variation in RSS and transverse RSS at the location of the berm induces instability and erodes the berm present at the toe of the riverbank. The combination of the vegetation and sandpit led to increased TKE of the flow at the near-bed and berm locations. The morphological analysis showed complete riverbank erosion in both cases of the unvegetated riverbank, i.e., without or with an upstream pit. The installed stems of rigid vegetation on the riverbank helped decrease the fluvial erosion of the riverbank, and its profile observed minimal changes over the length of the test segment. However, the main channel erosion was amplified due to the vegetation (in no-pit case) at the beginning of the test segment, which eroded the bed of the main channel by about 67% of the bed thickness. Also, in the vegetated riverbank cases, the upstream pit caused an increase in erosion by 7.66% at the center of the main channel. The study helps establish the hypothesis of negating the effects of sediment mining on bank erosion by using the rigid vegetation on the riverbank beyond its toe location, which performed well by maintaining the riverbank profile.

The sand mining activities leave a wide area ex-sand mining land. In Bambang Village, farmers who live in that area try to get their land back to produce agricultural activities that were used previously for sand mining. However, there are several obstacles to the sustainability of farming in this area, especially the matter of critical land issues, pest and disease attacks, unpredictability of price, and technology used still not optimized suboptimal use of technology. To analyze the sustainability index and the attributes that influence continuity of corn farming on post-mine sand land, a quantitative study was conducted used a five-dimension sustainability approach. This approach included the consist of ecological, economic, social, institutional, and technological dimensions. Data collected by distributing questionnaires to the respondents which are divided into 72 of farmers and five key informants, so that, total of respondents are 77 people. Multidimensional Scaling (MDS) and leverage analysis were used to determine the attributes that influence sustainability. The results of the research show corn farming continuity on post-sand mining land produce a sustainability index for about 54.86%. It is considered quite able to maintain in terms of the economic dimension (62.12%), social dimension (60.82%), and institutional dimension (60.27%). Though, the ecological dimension (46.88%) and technological dimension (44.23%) were classified as weak in terms of sustainability. Additionally, leverage analysis shows about 25 sensitive attributes which is influenced the sustainability of corn farming on post-sand mining land.

This research focused on land changes in Bandar Batauga Village, South Buton Regency, Indonesia, related to environmentally damaging sand mining activities. The primary objective of this research was to analyze land evolution in coastal settlement areas vulnerable to disasters, with an emphasis on the impact of sand mining until the year 2050. The research methods encompassed quantitative and qualitative approaches, including coastal change analysis using ArcGIS, in-depth interviews, and statistical methods. The research findings highlighted a significant increase in coastline changes, reaching an erosion area of 511.3 m² in 2022. Projections until 2050 indicate a potential maximum erosion of 1,157.22 m². This research employed the analytic hierarchy process, focusing on social, economic, physical, and biotic environmental aspects to formulate disaster mitigation strategies. However, implementing environmental management policies faces challenges, such as a lack of competence in relevant departments and low awareness among mining permit owners. Therefore, strategic recommendations involve enhancing human resource capacity, strengthening oversight, and providing economic support as critical steps to reduce mining activities.

AbstractIn Ghana, terrestrial sand mining in rural and peri-urban areas negatively affects the livelihoods of the majority of the residents employed in land-based livelihoods. We examine the sustainability of the alternative livelihood strategies the residents in these areas adopt as they lose their original livelihoods to sand mining. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected from 278 household heads and 23 key informants. Descriptive statistics and the chi-square test of independence were employed to analyse the quantitative data, while the qualitative data were analysed thematically. The study revealed that while more than half of the respondents had adopted alternative livelihood strategies as a survival strategy, the remaining household heads were unable to secure alternative livelihoods because of a lack of startup capital, inadequate skills, and the unattractiveness of the alternative livelihood options. Though the adoption of alternative strategies had contributed to improvements in food consumption, employment for some farmers displaced by sand mining, and the resilience of some household heads to handle shocks from sand mining, the strategies were largely unsustainable compared to the residents’ original livelihoods (farming). We recommend that the local government authorities develop policies in consultation with landowners to preserve and restore the original land-based livelihoods of the residents.

ABSTRACTRapid urbanization has dramatically increased the demand for river sand, leading to soaring sand extraction rates that often exceed natural replenishment in many rivers globally. However, our understanding of the geomorphic and social-ecological impacts arising from Sand Mining (SM) remains limited, primarily due to insufficient data on sand extraction rates. Conventionally, bathymetry surveys and compilation of declared amounts have been used to quantify SM budgets, but they are often costly and laborious, or result in inaccurate quantification. Here, for the first time, we developed a Remote Sensing (RS)-based Deep Learning (DL) framework to map SM activities and budgets in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta (VMD), a global SM hotspot. We trained a near real-time object detection system to identify three boat classes in Sentinel-1 imagery: Barge with Crane (BC), Sand Transport Boat (STB), and other boats. Our DL model achieved a 96.1% Mean Average Precision (mAP) across all classes and 98.4% for the BC class, used in creating an SM boat density map at an Intersection over Union (IoU) threshold of 0.50. Applying this model to Sentinel-1, 256,647 boats were detected in the VMD between 2014–2022, of which 17.4% were BC. Subsequently, the annual SM budget was estimated by correlating it with a recent riverbed incision map. Our results showed that, between 2015–2022, about 366 Mm3 of sand has been extracted across the VMD. The annual budget has progressively increased from 34.92 Mm3 in 2015 to 53.25 Mm3 in 2022 (by 52%), with an annual increment of around 2.79 Mm3. At the provincial-scale, Dong Thap, An Giang, Vinh Long, Tien Giang, and Can Tho were the locations of intensive mining, accounting for 89.20% of the total extracted volume in the VMD. Finally, our estimated budgets were validated with previous research that yielded a correlation coefficient of 0.99% (with bias of 2.65%). The automatic DL framework developed in this study to quantify SM budgets has a high potential to be applied to other deltas worldwide also facing intensive SM.

The present work investigates the combined effects of the upstream sediment mining pit and vegetation on the riverbank using emergent rigid vegetation beyond the toe on the flow structure and morphological changes due to fluvial erosion. A steep gradient of streamwise velocity and other turbulence parameters such as Reynolds shear stress (RSS), transverse RSS, and turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) at the interface of the vegetated and unvegetated part of the test segment was observed. The cross-sectional analysis showed that vegetation increased the velocity of the unvegetated main channel, and the sandpit increased even the near-bed velocity with a similar trend in its longitudinal variation at the center line of the main channel. The abrupt variation in RSS and transverse RSS at the location of the berm induces instability and erodes the berm present at the toe of the riverbank. The combination of the vegetation and sandpit led to increased TKE of the flow at the near-bed and berm locations. The morphological analysis showed complete riverbank erosion in both cases of the unvegetated riverbank, i.e., without or with an upstream pit. The installed stems of rigid vegetation on the riverbank helped decrease the fluvial erosion of the riverbank, and its profile observed minimal changes over the length of the test segment. However, the main channel erosion was amplified due to the vegetation (in no-pit case) at the beginning of the test segment, which eroded the bed of the main channel by about 67% of the bed thickness. Also, in the vegetated riverbank cases, the upstream pit caused an increase in erosion by 7.66% at the center of the main channel. The study helps establish the hypothesis of negating the effects of sediment mining on bank erosion by using the rigid vegetation on the riverbank beyond its toe location, which performed well by maintaining the riverbank profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fishing and sand mining in Cambodia may not appear to have much in common. However, digging deeper reveals important parallels. Both fishing and sand mining support livelihoods and are connected to a limited natural resource. Meanwhile, they are both typified by precarious livelihoods, on the one hand, and overexploitation, on the other. In bringing these two topics together, the paper combines empirical qualitative research from two separate studies conducted by the co-authors in Cambodia, one in coastal fishing villages and another in the sand mining industry along the Mekong River. We argue that the interplay between fishing and sand mining has paradoxical impacts on livelihoods, supporting one group while undermining another. Using a precarity analysis lens, we show how an unconventional, and largely invisible frontier of natural resource exploitation—sand mining—is intertwined with fisheries, and expands our understanding of the relationship between precarious labour, environmental change, and livelihoods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to examine the adverse effects to public health due to sand mining in residential areas. It is inalienable right of every citizen to be dealt with strictly in accordance with law as enshrined in Articles 4, 9, 24, and 25 of the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973 and no action is detrimental to life, liberty, reputation, and property of the citizen is called for even otherwise one of most precious fundamental rights that all the persons shall be dealt no discrimination by the statutory functions but unfortunately these basic fundamental rights are being infringed because of sand mining. In this study mixedmethod approach is used, incorporating a literature review, policy document analysis, and statistical data publically available. The significant correlation between respiratory health issues experienced by local residents and dust pollution from mining activities has been observed for which policy recommendations has been given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research focused on land changes in Bandar Batauga Village, South Buton Regency, Indonesia, related to environmentally damaging sand mining activities. The primary objective of this research was to analyze land evolution in coastal settlement areas vulnerable to disasters, with an emphasis on the impact of sand mining until the year 2050. The research methods encompassed quantitative and qualitative approaches, including coastal change analysis using ArcGIS, in-depth interviews, and statistical methods. The research findings highlighted a significant increase in coastline changes, reaching an erosion area of 511.3 m² in 2022. Projections until 2050 indicate a potential maximum erosion of 1,157.22 m². This research employed the analytic hierarchy process, focusing on social, economic, physical, and biotic environmental aspects to formulate disaster mitigation strategies. However, implementing environmental management policies faces challenges, such as a lack of competence in relevant departments and low awareness among mining permit owners. Therefore, strategic recommendations involve enhancing human resource capacity, strengthening oversight, and providing economic support as critical steps to reduce mining activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

River water is one of the most important natural resources for economic development and environmental sustainability. However, river water systems are vulnerable in some of the densely populated regions across the globe. Intense sand mining and waste disposal can lead to river changes, loose foundations, and biodiversity loss. This study aims to develop a web-based geographic information system (GIS) platform to monitor river channel changes and their impacts on river environments due to sand mining and waste burial. The system integrates open-source software, Windows Server 2012, a web server, and PostgreSQL with PostGIS plugins for efficient mapping and storage of geospatial data and volunteered reporting of location events. Interferometric methods, including SNAP2STAMPS Automated Algorithm, persistent scatterer interferometry (PSI), small baseline subset (SBAS), and Snap software, were used to analyze spatial changes of subsidence from Sentinel-1 satellite data from 2021 to 2023 in the Gadar River in Oshnavieh, Iran. The results showed that the maximum subsidence at the riverbank was −10.1 cm due to sand mining, and the maximum uplift was 8.2 cm due to waste landfilling. The average subsidence was reported to be −5.1 cm. The results emphasize spatial analysis, showcasing material mining's impact on subsidence trends and underscoring the significance of public participation in monitoring river health. Three parameters—completeness, correctness, and quality—were used to validate the system. Validation results showed completeness, correctness, and quality rates of 94.15%, 92.48%, and 86.63%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Vu Gia Thu Bon (VGTB) River basin is critical for regional development and prosperity in water resources. However, human interventions (e.g., dam construction and sand mining) have significantly affected this basin's sediment budget and morphological alterations over recent decades. Such humane actions drive an imbalance in water resources in the basin from upstream to downstream. Therefore, this study investigated spatiotemporal changes in sediment budget and morphology alterations using long-term data and bathymetric surveys; from these data, dams and sand mining contributions were quantified and differentiated. Based on field survey data and interviews, we estimated the sand-mining volume by incorporating reported and a newly proposed empirical formula. The results show that the total riverbed incision volume from 2010 to 2021 was 63.30 Mm3, with an incision rate of 0.14 m/yr. The officially reported sand-mining rate was 1.12 Mm3/yr, while the newly proposed empirical formula estimated 4.4 Mm3/yr. According to the developed empirical formula, the percentage reductions in the sediment budget due to sand mining and upstream dams were 69.7 % and 30.3 %, respectively, according to reports, and 17.8 % and 82.2 %. The statistical method was thus likely too conservative compared to the developed empirical formula. We found that the natural sediment supplies sourced from upstream were insufficient to compensate for the mined bed material. Therefore, our combination of different datasets permitted the assessment of future geomorphological developments within the VGTB River basin under the ongoing sediment deficits. The results of this study provide valuable insights into the impacts of human interventions, specifically sand mining, on the sediment budget, morphological alterations, and riverbed incision. The developed assessment forms the foundation for developing and expanding the region's water/sediment resource management strategies.

Poyang Lake is not only a globally important stopover for migratory birds and a habitat for fish, but also one of the main sand mining areas in China. However, sand mining activities significantly affect the suspended sediment concentration in Poyang Lake, thereby impacting water quality, altering lake bed topography, and potentially disturbing the living environment of plants and animals. Therefore, understanding the suspended sediment concentration and the spatiotemporal patterns of sand mining activities in Poyang Lake holds vital significance for effective lake management and biodiversity conservation. Utilizing surface reflectance (SR) data derived from Landsat satellite imagery sourced via Google Earth Engine spanning from 1989 to 2018, coupled with SSC data recorded by daily observation at Hukou hydrological stations, we conducted a comparative analysis of five distinct methods: Linear Regression (LR), Support Vector Machine (SVM), Random Forest (RF), Classification and Regression Trees (CART), and Back Propagation Neural Network (BPNN). Moreover, the applicability of machine learning methods was analyzed and compared across four scenarios (#01 Landsat 5, #02 Landsat 7, #03 Landsat 8, and #04, Landsat 5, 7, and 8). Using the optimal SSC estimation model, we investigated the spatial and temporal trends of sand mining activities in Poyang Lake from 1989 to 2021, along with their potential impact on suspended sediment levels in the water body. The results showed that the prediction accuracy of machine learning is better than that of linear regression models, and the RF model has the best performance. The RF model generated R $^{2} \gt 0.9$ for four scenarios (#01 Landsat 5, #02 Landsat 7, #03 Landsat 8, and #04 Landsat 5, 7, and 8) and showed little to no overfitting. The generated SSC map can clearly show the distribution of SSC in Poyang Lake, unveiling the impact of sand mining activities on suspended sediment, especially around sand dredgers where SSC can exceed 0.15 g/L. Sand mining activities in Poyang Lake emerged after 2000 and gradually shifted southward and expanded, reaching a peak in 2016. Fortunately, under government regulation, illegal sand mining has been effectively controlled and is currently concentrated near Songmenshan Island. Despite the fact that sand mining has been brought under control, there remains a necessity for heightened oversight to prevent any impact on national nature reserves. The Random Forest (RF) model demonstrates significant potential in utilizing Landsat satellite data to predict SSC in Poyang Lake, as well as to monitor sand mining activities in the area.

This research aimed to determine the social, economic, and environmental impact of Saddang River sand mining on local communities and the Pinrang district government. Primary data collection used field surveys to obtain supporting data on economic aspects consisting of production capacity, costs, selling price of sand at the miner level and market price at the consumer level, number of grains, and various other economic values such as indirect value and indirect use value. The primary data collection method uses a total sampling of 80 miners operating in the research area. Consumer data uses a field survey method with 8 hours of observation per day. Saddang River sand mining provides great socio-economic value and environmental impact, directly or indirectly. This significant socio-economic value and impact, if not accompanied by good management, can result in over-exploitation, which impacts the physical and ecological damage of the Saddang River. On the other hand, the high rate of sedimentation from upstream of the Saddang River results in shallowing, so sand mining activities help normalize the Saddang River. Therefore, to continue providing economic benefits and the Saddang River to avoid physical and ecological damage due to mining activities, sustainable management of Saddang River sand mining is needed.

Dongting Lake is the second largest freshwater lake in China, located in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River. Since the 21st century, it has faced intensified human activities, particularly the Three Gorges Dam impoundment and sand mining. The water quality of Dongting Lake has significantly changed due to human activities and climate change. Currently, quantitative studies on the spatial–temporal variations of total suspended matter (TSM) during Dongting Lake’s dry season and the human impacts on its concentration are lacking. This study utilizes Landsat-5 TM and Landsat-8 OLI data to estimate the changes in TSM concentration during the dry season from 1986 to 2021, analyzing their spatial–temporal variations and driving mechanisms. By evaluating the atmospheric calibration accuracy and model precision metrics, we select a model based on the ratio of red to green band, achieving an R2 of 0.84, RMSE of 18.94 mg/L, and MRE of 27.32%. Applying this model to the images, we map the distribution of the TSM concentration during the dry season from 1986 to 2021, analyzing its spatial pattern and inter-annual variation, and further investigate the impacts of natural factors and human activities on the TSM concentration. Our results show the following: (1) From 1986 to 2021, the TSM concentration during the dry season ranges from 0 to 200 mg/L of Dongting Lake, with an area-wide average value between 41.61 and 75.44 mg/L. (2) The TSM concentration from 1986 to 2021 is significantly correlated with the water level. Before 2006, it correlates positively, but no significant correlation exists from 2006 onward. (3) From 2006 onward, the mean TSM concentration is notably decreased compared to that before 2006, likely due to the Three Gorges Dam, while our analysis indicates a significant positive correlation between the TSM concentration and sand mining intensity during this period. This study highlights the influence of the Three Gorges Dam and sand mining on the TSM concentration in Dongting Lake during the dry season, providing valuable insights for related research on similar lakes.

The research aims to find out what part of human activities on the outside and inside played in the destruction of the coastal area; in this case, it examines human activities carried out by residents and sand mining entrepreneurs around the north Galesong Sea, which have an impact on change structure of land use and abrasion of coastal areas—using a quantitative paradigm with quantitative methods as the primary method and qualitative as support. The quantitative method uses a geographic approach, namely a spatial approach using a Geographic Information System in its analysis. GIS uses spatially based data, namely geographically oriented data. Data used in this study are land use maps and village shorelines. The qualitative method used descriptive case studies. Qualitative data: The population of this study is Aeng Batu village. There are two types of research samples, namely area and human samples; area samples are taken from the description of conditions when abrasion occurs and after post-abrasion repairs occur. For the human sample, the respondents were community leaders, village officials, and the community to find out the purpose of digging beach sand and dumping trash on the beach in ex-dug holes. The data is described and supplemented with photographs of actual conditions in the field—analysis techniques using analytical descriptions. In conclusion, damage to coastal land caused by human activities does not only come from mining at sea but also the activities of residents who use beach land and beach sand (for residential construction and garbage disposal), the physical shape of the beach, the damage is exacerbated by high rainfall, wind, and waves, especially during the rainy season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sand mining activities on agricultural land and rivers in Bambang Village, Wajak District, Malang Regency, have been ongoing for a long time. The sand mining activities on private agricultural lands, besides being illegal, also damage the land and the environment. In addition, these sand mining activities are also unsustainable. This study aimed to analyze and formulate sustainable alternative livelihoods of sand miners on agricultural lands in Bambang Village, Wajak District, Malang Regency, based on local resources. The study method was carried out using a combination of case studies and survey methods, accompanied by in-depth interviews and field observation. The in-depth interviews were conducted by interviewing 60 respondents for key informants from miners, farmers, many stakeholders, and experts that were selected purposively. The data obtained were analyzed using a multi-criteria analysis (MCA), namely PROMETHEE (Preference Ranking Organization Methods for Enrichment Evaluation) program to formulate sustainable alternative livelihoods. The results showed that the best alternative sustainable livelihood at this location is agriculture. The second best alternative sustainable livelihood is ecotourism, the third is animal husbandry, and the fourth is informal sectors based on local resources. The government should support the development of agriculture, ecotourism, animal husbandry, and the informal sectors in the village.

Changes in natural resources have presented major problems for farming communities in rural areas. In general, farmers diversify their livelihoods in the non-agricultural sector without paying attention to the impact on the availability of natural resources in the future. Sand mining activity has become one of the short-term solutions for farming communities in rural areas. As a result, a problem such as land degradation occurs in the village, thereby generating negative impacts on the availability of nature for the next generation. This study aimed to analyze the causes of land degradation and describe the Integrated Farming System (IFS) as a solution to address the land degradation problem in Bambang Village, Wajak District, Malang Regency. This study applied a qualitative case study research design, and the research methods included in-depth interviews with 40 informants, observation, and Focus Group Discussion (FGD). The location of this study was determined by purposive sampling, considering that Bambang Village is one of the villages affected by land degradation due to sand mining. The results of the study revealed that land degradation was due to the vulnerability of the farming community; thus, another alternative was proposed to utilize part of the land (20%) as a sand mining area without neglecting environmental preservation as a reward for environmental services. In addition, IFS and the actors as ecopreneurs were considered as alternative solutions to meet the needs and to prepare the farming community resilience through ecological preservation by sustaining the ecosystem balance. In practice, IFS requires integration among stakeholders, farmers and concerned institutions.

The present study tries to analyze the impact of human activities on the physical and chemical health of the Dwarkeswar River. The river flows through a densely populated area. As a result, nearly 4000 t of sand are being extracted per day from the four segments of the river. Moreover, huge materials are extracted from the river to supply the raw materials of 97 brick kilns developed along the banks of the river. An industrial plant extracts 2,200,000 L d−1 of water from the Dwarkeswar River, besides nearly 80 water lifting pumps. Similarly, a number of bridges are constructed across the river, and embankments are made along the banks. Per day 15.10 million liters of untreated sewage drain into the Dwarkeswar River from Bankura Town. The town also generates 63,111 kg/d of solid waste, some parts of which are disposed on the bank of the river. Intensive field surveys, analysis of multi-dated satellite images, and water quality parameters of the last ten years (2011–2020) were carried out in the present study to assess the impact of these interventions on river morphology, hydrology, and water quality. The comprehensive pollution index (CPI) was used to assess water quality. Results reveal that the Dwarkeswar River is highly affected, including the planform change, reduction of mean discharge and increase in the concentration of pollutants in the river water. The CPI value increased from 0.72 (2011) to 2.81 (2020), which indicates a severe increase in the level of pollution.

Sand is a crucial resource for the construction of urban infrastructure and constitutes an integral part of the built environment. In Ghana, terrestrial sand mining on farmlands is widespread in the rural and peri-urban communities adjoining the country's capital, Accra. Despite an estimated mining volume of 765 truckloads per day, corresponding to about 4.55 Mio m3 annually, the governance of sand has received little research attention. To fill this knowledge gap, this paper examines the scope and governance of terrestrial sand mining around Accra. Qualitative data were collected from 30 key informants, including landowners, officials of local government authorities, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Minerals Commission (MINCOM), sand miners, truck drivers, and staff of real estate companies. Besides, three Focus Group Discussions (FGD) were held with Farmer-Based Organizations (FBOs), complemented by a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the mining process and sand trucking. The results showed that sand mining in the study areas was governed by several regulatory agencies with limited inter-institutional collaboration. Illegal sand mining was widespread in the study areas due to bureaucratic licensing procedures, inadequate collaboration among the regulators, bribery of some regulatory officials by the miners, insufficient monitoring of miners, particularly at night, and landowners' preference for sand mining over farming as a result of prompt monetary gains. The revenues from sand mining accrued to the miners, landowners, and truck drivers who controlled capital or land, while the livelihoods of the majority of the local residents were negatively affected due to the environmental degradation. The findings call for a review of the existing licencing process and collaboration among the regulatory agencies to foster enforcement of the existing laws to ensure sustainable sand mining around Accra.

The Caowei River is an important part of the planned high‐grade waterway network in China. Since 2016, the deterioration in the navigation flow conditions of the Xiangshuikan reach has made traveling upstream through the waterway more difficult for ships and raised emerging navigation safety concerns. To better understand the causes of the deterioration in the waterway navigation conditions after 2016, we examined the topographic and hydrological changes of the Caowei River and investigated the navigable flow conditions of the Xiangshuikan reach. The results showed that the Caowei River has generally been scoured since 2006 due to sediment depletion and that the dramatic riverbed downcutting (15.47 m in the deepest cut of thalweg elevation) in the Xiangshuikan reach was likely caused by illegal sand mining which extracted the fine sand underlying the clay overburden in this segment and led to the formation of two extremely large steep headcuts. It was found that a large water surface gradient, rapid flow velocity, and disordered flow pattern occurred near the larger upstream headcut during the low‐water‐level period, which made ship navigation more challenging. In 2019, the measured maximum local water surface gradient and maximum flow velocity reached 3.97‰ and 3.28 m/s, respectively. Additionally, the increase in the low flow at Caowei station and the decrease in the low water level at Lujiao station further aggravated the navigation conditions of the Xiangshuikan reach. These findings reveal the considerable complexity of the response of the channel navigation flow conditions to the topographic and hydrological changes in the lake area, providing valuable information for channel regulation and river management in the Dongting Lake area and other rivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sand mining activities on agricultural land and rivers in Bambang Village, Wajak District, Malang Regency, have been ongoing for a long time. The sand mining activities on private agricultural lands, besides being illegal, also damage the land and the environment. In addition, these sand mining activities are also unsustainable. This study aimed to analyze and formulate sustainable alternative livelihoods of sand miners on agricultural lands in Bambang Village, Wajak District, Malang Regency, based on local resources. The study method was carried out using a combination of case studies and survey methods, accompanied by indepth interviews and field observation. The in-depth interviews were conducted by interviewing 60 respondents for key informants from miners, farmers, many stakeholders, and experts that were selected purposively. The data obtained were analyzed using a multi-criteria analysis (MCA), namely PROMETHEE (Preference Ranking Organization Methods for Enrichment Evaluation) program to formulate sustainable alternative livelihoods. The results showed that the best alternative sustainable livelihood at this location is agriculture. The second best alternative sustainable livelihood is ecotourism, the third is animal husbandry, and the fourth is informal sectors based on local resources. The government should support the development of agriculture, ecotourism, animal husbandry, and the informal sectors in the village. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sand waves in the Taiwan Shoal are characterized by two distinct spatial scales. Giant sand waves have a length of 2 kilometers with height between 5 m and 25 m, whilst small sand waves is less than 100-m long with height less than 5 m between giant sand wave peaks (crests). A series of five high-resolution multi-beam echo-sounding surveys between 2012 and 2020 in the middle of Taiwan Shoal indicated that artificial dredging on the giant sand waves had caused sand wave reform and evolution. Overall, the removal of giant sand waves significantly affected the migration of small sand waves adjacent to the dredging site, with the latter on both sides of the former appear to migrate towards the dredging pit. Moreover, in the dredging area, new sand waves emerged with wavelength much smaller than the original giant sand waves, while the convergent pattern of the small sand waves tends to store and form the giant sand waves, which might spread far beyond the survey period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study region: Poyang Lake, Jiangxi Province, China. Study focus: Total suspended solids (TSS) represents an important water quality parameter in inland waters. This study compared the performance of empirical models, semi-analytical models, and four machine learning models. Then, based on field-measured data, the back propagation neural network (BPNN) model with best performance (R2 = 0.89, RMSE = 20.03 mg/L, MAE = 10.8 mg/L, MAPD = 24.89%) was established and applied to Landsat images for retrieval. The spatial-temporal distribution of TSS in Poyang Lake from 1988 to 2022 was obtained. The various effects of driving forces on temporal and spatial variations of TSS concentration in Poyang Lake were analyzed. New hydrological insights for the region: The BPNN model proposed in this study has good performance in the testing dataset and two independent datasets, indicating good generalization ability and spatial portability. The TSS concentration showed an increasing trend over the past 35 years. The seasonal characteristics of TSS are distinct, with higher concentrations in the dry season and obvious variation in summer months. Before 2001, the TSS concentration was highly correlated with precipitation (r = −0.74) and wind speed (r = 0.60). Thereafter, sand mining (r = 0.66) became the main driving force underlying interannual variations in TSS concentration.

Mother Nature operates in a manner that seeks to mitigate the detrimental impacts on the environment, ultimately benefiting all living beings. However, this balance has a limit. Humanity's evergrowing demand for natural resources leads to unscientific extraction, resulting in rampant overexploitation. The repercussions of these unscientific, injudicious and unsustainable anthropogenic activities extend far beyond what can be amended by nature. As the obvious consequence of overexploitation, humankind suffers from a scarcity of basic resources necessary for a sustainable and high-quality life. Further, unchecked human interferences lead to disastrous natural events like floods or droughts. Citing a few instances concerning water resources, this article aims to illustrate how nature strives to preserve the balance of the earth system while also highlighting how certain human activities severely disrupt this equilibrium beyond remediation. Instances of unsustainable exploitation of global groundwater reserves and uncontrolled sand mining on the riverbed are discussed in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Bogor is one of the cities with a very rapid development rate, so the need for sand for construction is very high. There are plenty of sand sources in Bogor, feeding by 2 major rivers and 7 tributaries, including the Ciapus River. This river is a job opportunity for sand miners. Based on the study results, the traditional sand mining model is applied. The income from the sand miners is IDR100,000/m3, while the income from the collectors who also distribute the sand to the users is IDR150,000/delivery. The positive impact of this activity is that it can reduce sedimentation in the Ciapus River, while the negative impact is that it caused a change in the shape and function of the river and the road damage around the mining due to the sand transportation, but not on the road within the housing area. In the long term, this activity needs more attention because until now, the Bogor Kota Government still needs to have a regulation regarding type C mining. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urbanization requires enormous amounts of material inputs especially sand to fulfilling the demands of the increasing human population through sand mining. It has negative environmental impacts in terms of physical, chemical, and biological aspects like river-associated biodiversity, especially on river dolphins, fishes, crocodiles, turtles, otters, and birds. The temporary sand islands of Rivers with their abundant food supplies for birds are ideal nesting grounds for a variety of avian species, like Indian Skimmer, Black-bellied Tern, River Tern, Great Thick-knee, and River Lapwing. Extensive sand mining is degrading the breeding grounds of these sandbar nesting birds which can eventually lead to their population decline. Inadvertent erosion of river beds and banks also may occur as a result of extreme extraction practices. The use of heavy machinery is also affecting the collective environment. Conservation priority areas can be identified using select birds as environmental indicators and model organisms for biodiversity conservation. Long-term avifaunal survey data could also be useful for effective monitoring of the changes in the riverine habitat quality and biodiversity. Increasing natural riparian vegetation and conservation awareness among local people could make a positive impact on conserving these habitats along with some of the threatened avian species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Kenya, most of the construction sand is derived from dry riverbeds. Due to rampant nature in which sand mining is carried out in these rivers, adverse environmental and social effects have been reported. In order to ensure sustainable sand mining activities, this study assessed active morphological factors determining sand abundance in the seasonal river Tyaa in Kitui, Kenya. The study adopted quantitative research design. Purposive sampling was used to select river Tyaa due to uncontrolled sand mining that was taking place there. Systematic sampling at 20 meter intervals was used while collecting data at the stretches of the river channel, thus constituting 2,000 meters in total. Data on independent variables, namely the river channel's width, depth, slope angles, bank position, weathering status, vegetation status, and erosion status was collected using physical measurements and logic guided observation. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the data, giving marginal effects and respective p-values. The study established four statistically significant factors responsible for sand abundance in the dry river channel's namely depth (p=0.001), width (p=0.001), slope angles (p=0.001) and bank position (p=0.001). The study concluded that these factors should be observed while siting sand mines along dry river channels to mitigate adverse environmental effects. The study recommended that National Environmental Management Authority of Kenya should apply the findings of this study in the establishment of the locations of sand mines and monitoring of the mining process in line with the existing guidelines and regulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excessive sand mining to meet the growing demands of the construction industry has resulted in the degradation of rivers, lowering of groundwater table, saltwater intrusion into coastal aquifers, and damages to the biodiversity of the riverine ecosystem, besides endangering bridges and hydraulic structures at several locations. Methods presently being employed to assess the amount of sand that can be mined from rivers lack a scientific basis and are seldom supported by systematic studies on the behaviour of riverine systems. Sand audit reports shall be prepared based on hydrologic, hydraulic, and sediment transport modelling of rivers, and shall take into account relevant environmental and ecological considerations. These reports shall clearly present details pertaining to the annual sediment yield of the river basin, reaches of the river/ locations from which sand can be extracted without disturbing the river sediment equilibrium, and the volume of sediment that can be extracted from these locations. Sand mining from rivers is a major environmental issue in Kerala and the urgent need for regulating sand extraction based on a scientific assessment of the amount of sand available is widely recognized. It is in this context that this work aimed at developing a framework to perform sand auditing was taken up. The methodology is demonstrated by applying it to the Chaliyar River in Kerala. Rainfall-runoff and soil erosion modelling, and sediment routing were performed in HEC-HMS. Soil erosion from the catchment was modelled using the Modified Universal Soil Loss Equation (MUSLE) and the sediment was routed through the river by the uniform equilibrium method. Hydraulic and sediment transport modelling was then performed in HEC-RAS. Values of the model performance criteria for both HEC-RAS and HEC-HMS indicate that these models performed reasonably well. Based on the analysis, a sand audit report and sand volume map were prepared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the United Nations Environmental Program, sand is the second most exploited resource on the planet after water, and local knowledge about the effects of sand mining has been little addressed in international studies. In the case of rivers, the sand and gravel used in the construction industry are part of the fluvial sediments, and the effects are different at each exploitation site. In this article, we propose a theoretical–methodological framework of the sandy field of forces for the study of the socioenvironmental aspects related to the extraction of sand and gravel at the site known as La Isla, located in the Usumacinta River Basin in Mexico. This site has specific environmental and social characteristics. Based on the results of our participation in a research project and, subsequently, on the theoretical, conceptual, and methodological thinking for the social analysis of this site, our model demonstrates how the environmental and anthropic systems converge upon the use of sediments. We conclude that social interactions articulate the conditions of the specific context. The sandy field of forces is the reference context in which the local practices of the actors regarding the use of sand and gravel make sense. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]