Aelis Spiller, Mette Bendixe, Lars L. Iversen
Impact of Artisanal Riverbed Sand Mining on Freshwater Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning in Rulindo, Rwanda
The intense and growing demand for sand and gravel resources for construction purposes threatens the integrity of freshwater systems. Sand mining, the extraction of these aggregate resources, is globally ubiquitous, and deposits in rivers, lakes, and floodplains are intensely exploited. Freshwaters support uniquely high levels of biodiversity and are a key natural resource for humans. Thus, understanding ecological and ecosystem-level responses to landscape disturbances caused by sand mining is important for the management of aggregate resources and freshwater biodiversity. This work presents the case study of the Rusine River in Rwanda, in which both artisanal sand and tin mining occur. We present comprehensive data describing the abiotic and biotic components of the freshwater system along the course of the watershed as well as preliminary results on the environmental effects of the instream mining.
