WuhanUniversityofTechnologyDepartmentofSpatial InformationandPlanningSchoolofResourcesandEnvironmentEngineeringAssessment of hydromorphological alterations andpressuresinEurope(case study-Romania)GabrielaAdinaMOROSANU-MITOSERIUInstituteofGeographyoftheRomanianAcademy,Romaniagabriela.adina.m@gmail.com
Assessment of hydromorphological alterations and pressures in Europe (case study – Romania) 1 Wuhan University of Technology Department of Spatial Information and Planning School of Resources and Environment Engineering Gabriela Adina MOROȘANU-MITOȘERIU gabriela.adina.m@gmail.com Institute of Geography of the Romanian Academy, Romania
ContextSand mining is aproblem perpetuated for decades around the world, thatpresses on riparian ecosystems, but has onlyrecentlycometothescientific spotlight Whattypesofinterventions aremorepreciselyunderstoodbysand mining?Sandminingrefers to themanual/mechanical extraction of sedimentaryaggregates (sand and gravel)carried out mainly through openpits inriver environments(in-stream,meanders andfloodplains)oralongbeaches and inland dunes.In themost general sense,sand canbe alsodredged from thebeds of lakes, seas and oceans.Globalimportance Local, regional and trans-boundary threatSand extraction and dredging are essential for theBeing pursued actively for its economic significance,sandmining howeverhas thetendency to disrupt thedevelopment of infrastructure projects worldwide,sandenvironmental balanceand the ecologies gravelybeing the main aggregateused in constructionmortar.How isthis typeofanthropogenic activity on rivers regulated?With a fewcountries having enacted specific bindingRules on Sand Mining and Environment ImpactAssessment (EIA)mandates,this age-old practice is still largely covered under the non-specific tutelage of general mining legislations and other soft law instrumentslikebroad environmentalguidelines lackingvigorous implementation.2
Context Sand mining is a problem perpetuated for decades around the world, that presses on riparian ecosystems, but has only recently come to the scientific spotlight. Sand mining refers to the manual/mechanical extraction of sedimentary aggregates (sand and gravel) carried out mainly through open pits in river environments (in-stream, meanders and floodplains) or along beaches and inland dunes. In the most general sense, sand can be also dredged from the beds of lakes, seas and oceans. What types of interventions are more precisely understood by sand mining? Being pursued actively for its economic significance, sand mining however has the tendency to disrupt the environmental balance and the ecologies gravely. How is this type of anthropogenic activity on rivers regulated? Sand extraction and dredging are essential for the development of infrastructure projects worldwide, sand being the main aggregate used in construction mortar. Global importance Local, regional and trans-boundary threat With a few countries having enacted specific binding Rules on Sand Mining and Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) mandates, this age-old practice is still largely covered under the non-specific tutelage of general mining legislations and other soft law instruments like broad environmental guidelines lacking vigorous implementation. 2
One extractive activity in rivers... multiple impactsEach vear. almost 5o billion tons of sand and gravel are mined. mostly due to requirements in the construction sector and to help inlandreclamation(WWF,2018)Industrialsandandgravel productionworldwide in2019inthousandtons(Statista.com)i.e.,inthefabricationofconcrete,foreachtoneofcementsixtoseventimesmoretonsof sand andgravel arerequired(USGS,2013)NorthAmericaEurope口112500口138510Latin AmericaThis growing demand for concrete makesthe sand mining the largestAustraliaextractive industry on theplanet (WWF,2018)...and Asian rivers areonthefront cover of this mining activity (mainly due to population growth and6400Africaincreasingneedforbuildingmaterial)!口137100Asia-5300=12400[Cumulativeimpactsofsandmining>ondams,hydro-sedimentarydynamics,riverinerichnessloss,etc.Sandminingalsoraisesthequestionofthesustainabilityofexploitingriverineecosystems(UNEP,2019)Acrosstheglobe,sandminingispracticed atan unevenpace.Is itaquestionofnecessity orof legislation?There is for sure a need for targeted legislation to ensure compliance with the spatial and volumetric limits imposedfor sand mining activities in different countries, to achieve the desired conservation of water and sediment resourcesandthepreservationofthehydro-morphologicalconditions
One extractive activity in rivers. multiple impacts Each year, almost 50 billion tons of sand and gravel are mined, mostly due to requirements in the construction sector and to help in land reclamation (WWF, 2018). Cumulative impacts of sand mining on dams, hydro-sedimentary dynamics, riverine richness loss, etc. This growing demand for concrete makes the sand mining the largest extractive industry on the planet (WWF, 2018) . and Asian rivers are on the front cover of this mining activity (mainly due to population growth and increasing need for building material)! i.e., in the fabrication of concrete, for each tone of cement, six to seven times more tons of sand and gravel are required (USGS, 2013). Sand mining also raises the question of the sustainability of exploiting riverine ecosystems (UNEP, 2019). Across the globe, sand mining is practiced at an uneven pace. Is it a question of necessity or of legislation? There is for sure a need for targeted legislation to ensure compliance with the spatial and volumetric limits imposed for sand mining activities in different countries, to achieve the desired conservation of water and sediment resources and the preservation of the hydro-morphological conditions. 3 112500 137100 12400 5300 6400 138510 Industrial sand and gravel production worldwide in 2019 in thousand tons (Statista.com) North America Europe Latin America Australia Africa Asia
Oneextractiveactivityinrivers...multipleimpactsWithin the European Union,in many cases,minerals areextractedfrom surfacewater.Sandusedtoreinforce thecoast isextractedfromotherseaareas,whileclayandsandusedforconcreteandbuildingareusuallyextractedfromthefloodplainsofrivers.Gravelmininghasoccurred inseveral Europeanriverbasinse.g.innorth-easternItaly,and someriversoftheCarpathians,resultinginwidespreadchanneladjustments inthelast1ooyears,inparticularincisionandnarrowing(Rinaldietal.2005;Surianetal.,2008)Physical environmentChemicalenvironmentRiverbeddeepening and wideningIncreased turbidity and total suspendedHighlightsabout impactandmanagementofsandsolids (TSS)Riverbed,bank and slopeinstabilitymininginrivers(Rentier&Cammeraat,2022)Increased erosionIncreasedconcetionsofheavmetalsReduced sand replenishment.The increasing demand for construction-gradeAltered hydrofogical tablePollutionofair,watrand soilRiverbed coarseningsandisaworldwideenvironmentalissue..Thetype of extraction influences the magnitudeofthe impactonthe environment.器.Effectsarefound onthephysical,biologicalchemicalandanthropogenicenvironment.Habitat loss and fragmentationDestruction ofinfrastructure.Effects are often widespread and cumulative andSmothered microorganismsLossofagricultural landthereforehardtoquantifyReduced respiration and photosynthesisReducedyieldoffarmersandfisheriesReduced presence of benthic organismsDevelopmentofscience-basedpoliciesforIncreased risk of waterbornediseases Nolse pollutionPoorworking circumstancessustainableminingshouldbeprioritisedBiologicalenvironmentAnthropogenicenvironment
One extractive activity in rivers. multiple impacts 4 Within the European Union, in many cases, minerals are extracted from surface water. Sand used to reinforce the coast is extracted from other sea areas, while clay and sand used for concrete and building are usually extracted from the flood plains of rivers. Gravel mining has occurred in several European river basins e.g. in north-eastern Italy, and some rivers of the Carpathians, resulting in widespread channel adjustments in the last 100 years, in particular incision and narrowing (Rinaldi et al. 2005; Surian et al., 2008) Highlights about impact and management of sand mining in rivers (Rentier & Cammeraat, 2022) • The increasing demand for construction-grade sand is a worldwide environmental issue. • The type of extraction influences the magnitude of the impact on the environment. • Effects are found on the physical, biological, chemical and anthropogenic environment. • Effects are often widespread and cumulative and therefore hard to quantify. • Development of science-based policies for sustainable mining should be prioritised
HowtheEUSvstemFunctions?TheEuropeanUnion's authoritytolegislatehas increased withtheMaastricht Treaty(1992)andtheLisbon Treaty(2oo7)bytheconfermentofpowersontheUnionbyitsmembers.UnlikeIndia,herethemembersaresovereignstateswith authority to legislate in their respective nations.And the centralisation is not as rigid as a federal or quasi-federalstate.Thus, unlike the Central Government in India,the EU in its regional set up has primary authority to legislateonenvironmental matters againstmember states.This paves wayfor uniformitywithin the system.Though‘sustainabledevelopment'hasbeenformalised asoneofEU'sfundamental goalsposttheAmsterdamtreatyso far concreteregulationshave not been framed in theenvironmental field.It is true that the European rivers arenowhere near the Indian scenario in terms of destroyed ecologies from sand mining, but a sound system must focus onprevention thanremediation.However,so far,mostly directives alonehave been enacted by the EU on environmental lines like the WaterFrameworkDirective(WFD-2000/60/EC),StrategicEnvironmentalAssessmentDirective(Directive2001/42/EC),Environmental ImpactAssessmentDirective(EIA-2011/92/EU),Habitats Directive(Council Directive92/43/EEC),Directive2oo8/1/ECconcerningintegratedpollutionpreventionandcontrol(theIPPCDirective),FloodDirective(2007/60/CE)oftheEuropeanParliamentandCouncil,etc.These directives though binding on the member states, the choice of means to achieve the results/goals specifiedtherein are at the discretion of therespective member States.This slows down and hinders immediate and effectiveenforcement
How the EU System Functions? The European Union’s authority to legislate has increased with the Maastricht Treaty (1992) and the Lisbon Treaty (2007) by the conferment of powers on the Union by its members. Unlike India, here the members are sovereign states with authority to legislate in their respective nations. And the centralisation is not as rigid as a federal or quasi-federal state. Thus, unlike the Central Government in India, the EU in its regional set up has primary authority to legislate on environmental matters against member states. This paves way for uniformity within the system. Though ‘sustainable development’ has been formalised as one of EU’s fundamental goals post the Amsterdam treaty, so far concrete ‘regulations’ have not been framed in the environmental field. It is true that the European rivers are nowhere near the Indian scenario in terms of destroyed ecologies from sand mining, but a sound system must focus on prevention than remediation. However, so far, mostly directives alone have been enacted by the EU on environmental lines like the Water Framework Directive (WFD - 2000/60/EC), Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive (Directive 2001/42/EC), Environmental Impact Assessment Directive (EIA - 2011/92/EU), Habitats Directive (Council Directive 92/43/EEC), Directive 2008/1/EC concerning integrated pollution prevention and control (the IPPC Directive), Flood Directive (2007/60/CE) of the European Parliament and Council, etc. These directives though binding on the member states, the choice of means to achieve the results/goals specified therein are at the discretion of the respective member States. This slows down and hinders immediate and effective enforcement