The World Assembly,
Knowing that sand can be strategically removed, or mined, from natural environments,
Defining, for the purposes of this resolution, such mining as “industrial sand mining” where the sand is removed with mechanized construction equipment for industrial and commercial use,
Affirming that, while industrial sand mining is of increasing importance to the worldwide construction industry, it can also cause widespread habitat destruction, soil erosion, and other harm to biodiversity if left unchecked, and
Believing that the World Assembly should finally take action to regulate industrial sand mining’s most harmful impacts,
Hereby:
Establishes the Sustainable Aggregates Networking Department (SAND),
Tasks SAND with working with accredited geologists, zoologists, biologists, and marine biologists to determine areas within each member state's jurisdiction where industrial sand mining shall be forbidden (hereinafter "proscribed areas"),
Forbids SAND from declaring any area to be a proscribed area, unless it believes that industrial sand mining in that area poses a severe likelihood for irreparable harm to local groundwater, flora, fauna, marine life, or agriculture,
Mandates that member states take effective action to ensure that industrial sand mining does not happen in proscribed areas within their jurisdiction, and
Strongly encourages member states to regulate the extent and impact of industrial sand mining throughout their jurisdiction, even if such mining happens outside proscribed areas.