Sand and Sustainability: An Essential Resource for Nature and Development
Helena Bach, UNEP/GRID
Tom Bide, British Geological Survey
Stephanie Chuah, UNEP/GRID
Candice Chung, UNEP/GRID
Katherine Dawson, University College London
Marc Goichot, WWF Asia Pacific
Reia Guppy, The University of Trinidad and Tobago
Jean-Baptiste Jouffray, Stanford University/Stockholm Resilence Centre
Ashley McCleaf Long, Costal Carolina University
Mona Mohammed, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
Jonathan Moizer, Plymouth Business School
Pascal Peduzzi, UNEP/GRID-Geneva
Sheila Puffer, Northeastern University
Munira Raji, University of Plymouth
Mark Russell, Mineral Products Association
Luis Sanchez, University of São Paulo
Ian Selby, University of Liverpool
Murtah Shannon, Both ENDS
Natalia Strigin, Deltares
Aurora Torres, University of Alicante
Juanito Torres Montano, UNEP/GRID-Geneva
Vera Van Lancker, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences/Ghent University
Arnaud Vander Velpen, UNEP/GRID-Geneva
Renee Young, The Western Australian Biodiversity Science Institute
Halinishi Yusuf, Newcastle University
Adel A. Zadeh, Northestern University
Sophus O.S.E zu Ermgassen, University of Oxford
Abstract
The Sand and Sustainability: An Essential Resource for Nature and Development highlights sand’s multiple values to modern society, as well as its often overlooked ’non-use’ values when left within functioning ecosystems where it underpins livelihoods, water security, food systems, territorial integrity, and shelter. The report examines the growing environmental, social, and economic pressures linked to rising global sand demand and identifies key gaps in governance, biodiversity integration, monitoring, and long-term planning. It presents 24 strategic actions for governments, industry, financial institutions, and civil society to better govern sand resources and their multiple values, prioritise long-term planning, transform financial systems, reduce unnecessary demand, strengthen circularity, improve transparency and monitoring, and fully integrate biodiversity considerations into decision-making.
