Sand extraction carried a measurable land-use signal in cross-country models
WHAT THE EVIDENCE SAYS
An econometric study of 1990–2022 country-level data related sand mining and other economic or policy variables to land-use change, ecological footprint and carbon emissions. The modeled long-run association between a one-percent increase in sand mining and land-use change was 0.223% in BRICS, 0.12% in G7 and 0.055% in MENA groups.
WHY IT MATTERS / OUR READ
Construction supply chains have environmental footprints beyond project boundaries. These national correlations are a reason to strengthen material accounting and site-specific river/coast assessments, not to substitute them.
CAVEATS / UNCERTAINTY
Macroeconomic regression does not isolate the ecological effect of a particular dredging or mining operation, establish a causal mechanism or quantify species losses. Group differences can reflect underlying policy and development patterns.
SOURCE
Sofi et al. · Discover Environment · cross-country econometric study (15 Oct 2026)
View original evidence ↗
Econometric associations link extraction and land transformation across BRICS, G7 and Middle East/North Africa groups, not individual river impacts.
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