From extraction to recovery: Geomorphic and social transformations of gravel mining, Lubha River, Northeast Bangladesh

Gravel and sand mining is widespread globally, generating both societal benefits and detrimental impacts on physical landscapes and local livelihoods. This study examines the impacts of gravel mining on physical and human landscapes in Northeast Bangladesh, focusing on changes during mining and after its cessation. We adopt a mixed-methods approach, integrating remote sensing analysis with interviews of local residents. Four periods of mining were identified, revealing faster recovery of the active channel than of abandoned channels and the floodplain. Channel morphodynamic response shows extraction sometimes exceeding natural sediment supply, underscoring the need for sustainable practices. Interviews with residents and an environmental pressure group reveal contrasting views, with residents reporting post-mining hardships. We propose six policy recommendations for sustainable sediment extraction in Bangladesh and comparable sites: supporting artisanal and small-scale mining, rotational extraction zones with monitoring, empowering community involvement, prioritizing extraction outside the active channel, and restoring abandoned channels and floodplain areas.