Illegal sand mining eroding Morocco’s coastline and tourism
Tourism is essential to Morocco’s economy, and its beautiful beaches are a vital part of the attraction for visitors. In an ironic Catch-22 situation, however, meeting the demands of this industry is indirectly destroying the very coastline that tourists are coming to enjoy.
Sand art “Beautiful Morocco,” by Kseniya Simonov
A sand animation film, by Kseniya Simonov.
The Sand Thieves of Larache, Northern Morocco
Trois jours par semaine, les travailleurs de Larache, au Maroc, amènent des bulldo-zers sur la plage et prennent autant de sable qu’ils le peuvent. Quoique leurs patrons disposent de permis, ils viennent aussi en toute illégalité les week-ends, se servant d’ânes et de pelles pour ravager un peu plus le paysage.
Beach Sand Mining, Saidia, Morocco
The sand dunes along this 14km beach have been eradicated to provide sand for construction along the coast.
Government of Morocco on Tar Sands potential.
There are ten oil shale deposits in Morocco, and the three most-explored, and therefore the most likely to begin commercial production in the near future, are near the city of Tangier, near the Mediterranean sea.
Mining Of Coastal Sand: A Critical Environmental And Economic Problem For Morocco
In Morocco, the extraction of beach and dune sand for use in the construction industry is destroying significant portions of the nation’s natural heritage.
A sand shortage? The world is running out of a crucial — but under-appreciated — commodity
An insatiable global appetite for sand, one of the world’s most important but least appreciated commodities, is unlikely to let up anytime soon. The problem, however, is that this resource is slipping away.
Tracing the source of illicit sand–can it be done?
If you’ve visited the beach recently, you might think sand is ubiquitous. But in construction uses, the perfect sand and gravel is not always an easy resource to come by.
Illegal sand mining a deadly beat for India’s journalists
The recent killing of a reporter in India’s Uttar Pradesh state has exposed the dangers for journalists covering illegal sand mining and construction in the country. The sand mining industry is laden with corruption, and this puts journalists who cover the topic at an increased danger.