Assessing the Effects of Urban Sprawl on Local Ecosystems and Biodiversity

Abstract

Urban sprawl refers to the unplanned, low-density expansion of cities into rural or natural areas, marked by dispersed housing, extensive road networks, and fragmented land use. While linked to economic growth and rising housing demand, it causes severe ecological consequences, including habitat loss, biodiversity decline, and landscape fragmentation. Forests, wetlands, and green spaces are converted into urban zones, reducing ecosystem services and intensifying human-wildlife conflicts, pollution, altered hydrological cycles, and urban heat island effects. In India, cities like Bengaluru, Pune, and Gurugram have lost significant wetlands, forests, and farmland, threatening sustainability through declining air quality, water resources, and carbon sequestration. Thus, urban sprawl must be seen not just as development but as a major driver of environmental change, underscoring the urgency for sustainable urban planning that balances growth with ecological preservation.