How does increased concrete demand affect traditional livelihoods?

Question

Accepted Answer

Increased Concrete Demand Displaces Traditional Livelihoods and Alters Landscapes

The escalating global demand for concrete, primarily driven by construction for tourism infrastructure and housing, is leading to the expansion of quarrying operations. This expansion directly encroaches upon areas traditionally used by herders for grazing, forcing them to abandon their long-held livelihoods. The physical process of quarrying, involving deforestation and land alteration, disrupts natural ecosystems and traditional human activities, while operational hazards like explosions and rock collapses pose direct risks to both people and animals.
Quarrying Expansion Threatens Pastoralist Lifestyles

In Northern Cyprus, the expansion of quarries is a direct consequence of the need for development, fueled by tourism and the construction of hotels, holiday homes, and roads. This growth has resulted in quarries encroaching on the grazing lands essential for herders like Jamal, a 55-year-old who faces displacement due to the lack of future for his traditional way of life. The physical alteration of the mountain slopes, with vegetation disappearing and rock faces collapsing, makes these areas unsuitable for his herd, compelling him to consider leaving his ancestral lands.
Environmental Degradation and Safety Concerns Arise from Extraction

The process of extracting materials for concrete production is inherently disruptive to the environment. Globally, the annual extraction of 40 to 50 billion tonnes of sand and gravel contributes to deforestation and air pollution. In Cyprus, quarrying activities generate dust clouds that frighten animals and create hazardous conditions. Explosions and rockfalls are not uncommon, as evidenced by an incident where rocks rained down on Jamal, injuring him and causing the loss of animals, highlighting the significant safety risks associated with these operations.
Economic Pressures Drive Resource Exploitation Despite Environmental Impact

The economic realities faced by regions like Northern Cyprus, which is not internationally recognised and thus faces export limitations, often push development and resource exploitation forward. Quarry operators in Northern Cyprus assert that their operations are situated away from residential areas and are devoid of trees or animals. However, environmentalists dispute these claims, pointing to instances where quarries have been authorised in sensitive areas and criticising the application of less-than-optimal environmental methods, suggesting a regulatory gap in managing these operations.
Global Consumption Patterns Fuel Quarrying Proliferation

The widespread demand for concrete, which has tripled in the last two decades and is projected to rise with population growth, underpins the global proliferation of quarries. This trend is mirrored in various regions, from Lebanon, where activists are opposing illegal quarries that have decimated mountains, to New Zealand, where a quarry project has raised concerns about health risks from silica dust. Experts and environmental advocates alike acknowledge that consumer demand for infrastructure and housing, coupled with a desire for environmental protection, creates a complex dynamic where consumption patterns directly contribute to the environmental challenges posed by quarrying.

Reading history

Hide →

This history is cleared when the page is closed.

How does increased concrete demand affect traditional livelihoods?

Loading

Was this article helpful?

Helpful

Not helpful

Report an issue

1

0

0

Share with friends