Researchers warn of irreversible forest damage from sand mining

A 2026 study led by Prof. Nat Owusu Prempeh of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) has found that unregulated sand mining significantly degrades plant diversity, forest structure and carbon storage in tropical forest ecosystems.

Sand mining plays a critical role in infrastructure development and economic activity across many tropical countries, including Ghana.

 However, the study warns that poorly regulated extraction practices pose long-term ecological risks that may be difficult to reverse.

The research assessed a 30-year-old abandoned sand mining site within a tropical forest in Ghana, categorised into sand mine core (SMC), sand mine buffer (SMB) and non-sand mine (NSM) zones based on extraction intensity.

Using nested sample plots, the researchers analysed plant species composition and tree biomass to evaluate biodiversity, stand structure and carbon stocks.

The findings revealed a sharp decline in species richness, from 81 species in the undisturbed NSM area to 45 species in the heavily mined SMC zone.

Forest structural characteristics including tree height, density and basal area collapsed in the core mining area, with carbon stocks dropping to zero, compared to 69.89 ± 16.06 tonnes per hectare in the non-mined site.

Although mined areas recorded a higher number of individual plants, this reflects ecological imbalance rather than healthy biodiversity, as many conservation-priority and disturbance-sensitive species are absent, raising concerns about potential local extinction.

The researchers emphasised the link between forest degradation and declining carbon stocks, with implications for carbon sequestration and climate regulation.

They recommend stricter regulation of sand mining and the integration of sustainable extraction practices into national land-use policies to safeguard forest ecosystems.

The study was published in the International Journal of Forestry Research.