End illegal sand mining in China | Science

China is the world’s largest producer and consumer of sand gravel and crushed rocks, with an annual consumption of 20 billion metric tons, accounting for nearly half of global consumption (1, 2). Sand mining activities alter riverbed and lakebed topography and disrupt aquatic habitats and river ecosystems (3). These environmental changes threaten the safety of downstream bridges, embankments, underwater structures, and flood prevention infrastructure (3). China’s Ministry of Water Resources has implemented regulations to curb sand mining, but companies continue to engage in mining activities, sometimes with the permission of local governments (4). China must take steps to streamline and enforce sand mining bans.