Understanding the Implications of Sand Mining: A Livelihoods Analysis in Coastal Cambodia

Abstract

Sand mining has emerged as a timely yet under-researched area of study. With a growing demand for sand reflecting rapid urbanization and population growth in many parts of the world, regulation has proven difficult leading to exploitation with serious environmental and socioeconomic implications (Torres, Brandt, Lear, & Liu, 2017). This is particularly apparent in many parts of Asia where the increased need for sand has put a strain on the national deposits, forcing countries to source sand elsewhere. In the absence of global monitoring mechanisms and a lack of enforcement, it is hard to estimate the precise magnitude of sand mining. While a growing body of literature has emerged examining the environmental implications of sand mining, primarily in rivers, lakes and coastal waters, there remains a gap in knowledge regarding its socioeconomic implications, specifically on livelihoods. In the past decade, sand mining has exploded in Cambodia with detrimental implications. In Cambodia’s Koh Kong province, villagers have long complained of illicit mining in the mangrove rich estuaries and river systems, decimating fish and crab populations in a number of fishing communities along the coastline (Beiser, 2017). This paper examines the socioeconomic implications sand mining in the Koh Kong province using the media as a starting point. The media has played a critical role in Cambodia, giving a voice to local communities, yet much remains to be explored. This paper ultimately aims to demonstrate the dire need for further academic research in to order to better understand the socioeconomic implications of sand mining, specifically on livelihoods, and help bridge the gap in knowledge.