Sandstone is an important resource with a wide range of uses. After years of mining, the natural sand resources are rapidly decreasing, and in some areas the natural sand is almost exhausted. In order to protect riverbanks, dams, and ecological balance, local governments have increased restrictions on the amount of sand extracted near the river and strictly prohibited mining, but the phenomenon of excessive mining and digging is still banned repeatedly.

In response, Dr. Zhou Jinfeng, the Secretary-General of China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF) has spoken about his views:

The demand for sand for economic construction is rigid. After this rigid demand has led to the strengthening of management, there are several aspects that need special attention: first, we must stop chaotic mining and excavation. The impact of illegal mining and unauthorized mining without approval procedures on the ecological environment is even worse. This must be paid attention to. Second, sand mining should be carried out in accordance with laws, regulations, and high quality under the conditions of planning, approval, and environmental impact assessment, and not across the board. Third, some natural environment problems left by sand mining in the past are facing risks, such as soil erosion, river breakwaters, flood risks, etc. These risks should be strengthened by investigation, evaluation, and timely restoration.

"This is a series of projects ranging from the prohibition of illegal sand mining to the strict control and settlement of the problems left over from history. These are very serious and urgent problems, including the downstream problems caused by the interception of reservoirs in the upper reaches of the Yellow River. The problems of the hanging river and the market demand for sand mining ... These need to be linked together and considered systematically. This is a problem that we must solve for the protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River. "He said.

At the same time, Dr. Zhou also emphasized that from the perspective of species and habitat protection, sand mining in the Yellow River also poses a serious threat to the benthic organisms of the Yellow River, and has an impact on the biodiversity and biological habitat of the Yellow River Basin. Should be give more attention and careful consideration. These problems also need to be combined with aquaculture along the Yellow River, such as cage fish farming in the reservoir, and developing production. They also face high-quality development issues.

"When it comes to high-quality development, it is generally understood that it refers to industry, minerals, energy and other industries, but the scope of high-quality development is much more than that. Cage fish farming, due to excessive concentration, can easily lead to increased input in chemicals, especially antibiotics and if the content of antibiotics in the water of the Yellow River Basin is too high, it will also have a very serious impact on other organisms. These organisms include fish and shrimp. After people eat these fish and shrimp, it is easy to cause too high levels of veterinary and medical antibiotics in the body, and human health will be affected. This is also a big problem. " Dr. Zhou said that while pursuing high-quality development, people also should take the problems involved aquaculture and aquatic life seriously into consideration in the development of high quality.

Dr. Zhou also emphasized that if some polluting enterprises or individuals first control the pollution, then discharge the pollutants, and then continue to dig sand for mining, then these actions will have a serious impact on the formation, trend and flood control of the river. These problems have little direct impact on the amount of water, but it affects the amount of water through operations on soil and water conservation, such as sand digging and embankment digging. In addition, in the past decade, the Yellow River Basin, including the Three River Sources and the upper and middle reaches of the Yellow River, has experienced an increase in precipitation. If sand mining and sand excavation are not effectively managed, the protection of riverbanks and soil erosion, and soil erosion, these problems will become more prominent.

In addition, the problems of sand mining and garbage are also closely related. "Now many sand pits have been dug. After a period of time, they have become landfills. People often have questions about the impact of these 'deteriorated' sand pits on the environment if not repaired. What should be done by sand digging companies? "

In this regard, he also gave suggestions: If it becomes a simple landfill plant, after the erosion or infiltration of rainwater, the pollution in the garbage will form the spread of pollution sources. After sand mining, the sand digging enterprise should shoulder the responsibility of the later period. How to deal with the site after sand mining should adopt different methods to deal with according to their specific conditions. Sand digging companies should take effective measures to prevent things like sand pits from turning into landfills.

We focus on high-quality development. At the same time, we must protect the Yellow River to prevent illegal mining and illegal excavation. We must rationally plan and legally mine sand and dig sand. This will not only effectively reduce man-made “natural disasters”, making the ecological environment develop in a high-quality direction is also more conducive to practically solving environmental problems and allows us to enjoy the right to live in a healthy and comfortable environment.

(Photo credit: CBCGDF)

Original Chinese article:

http://www.cbcgdf.org/NewsShow/4854/10753.html

By / Maggie