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River sand is extracted from riverbeds while pit sand is from inland areas. Clay is commonly from clay-loam soils as well as anthills.
Sand is commonly used for making concrete in construction activities. Concrete is a composite construction material composed primarily of sand, cement, stones and water.
Different formulations are used to make concrete either for bricks, pavements, block walls, wall-plaster, concrete pillars or foundation slabs.
On the other hand, rural communities use both sand and clay for construction. In the past, many preferred to use clay, wood and grass for constructing huts.
However, due to growing urbanisation, rural business centres and growth points have also opted to use sand for construction.
Nevertheless, the trend has seen less use of indigenous wood for construction as these have been substituted by concrete. Ironically, the use of concrete serves our forest resources.
What are the environmental issues involved?
The following environmental impact is experienced in sand extraction:
- Direct cause of erosion. Soil particles are loosened during extraction, for example, heavy trucks enter the river beds loosening the beds thereby accelerating bank erosion.
- Increased volume of heavy traffic impacts negatively on fragile ecosystems.
- Destruction of wildlife habitat. For example, crocodiles nest in the sand.
- Causes turbidity in water, which is harmful to organisms that needs sunlight
- Destroys fisheries causing problems to communities that depend on fishing for their livelihoods
- Causes degradation of rivers
- Threat to structures such as bridges
- Sand extraction lowers the water table
- Clay is commonly used for brick making in most rural areas. The process of brick making has also contributed to massive deforestation.
The following environmental impact is experienced in clay extraction:
- Creation of clay pits
- Destruction of habitat for ants
- Disturbance in ecosystems
- Accelerates deforestation, wet wood used in brick furnace
Some positive processes arising from sand extraction
Removal of silt from riverbeds is one major environmental benefit from sand extraction.
The gradual filling and removal of sand from extraction holes prevents the migration of sand downstream.
Use of bricks from sand has to a larger extent contributed in saving trees, which have among other services a mitigation role to woes of climate change.
What does the law say?
Extraction of sand and clay should be done in sustainable manner. Section 140(2)(k) of the Environmental Management Act (Chapter 20:27) as read with Section 3 (1) of Statutory Instrument 7 of 2007 states that no person shall, excavate, remove, possess or licence the removal of clay or sand deposit for commercial purposes without a licence issued by the Environmental Management Agency.
The applicant is required to consult the local authority and the local inspector, and develop a detailed excavation and environmental rehabilitation plan for submission to EMA for consideration before any extraction or excavation is done.
As indicated by the said statutes, extraction of clay and sand for commercial use should comply with these requirements. Section 3(4) states that, any person who contravenes these requirements shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level fourteen or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years or to both to such fine and imprisonment.
Are you into commercial sand or clay
extraction?
If yes, it is good for the nation, the environment, the economy and future generations for you to comply with the indicated statutory requirements.
The Agency upholds integrated environmental management with stakeholder participation. Get registered now.
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