How does urban sprawl destroy and fragment wildlife habitat?

Urban sprawl destroys and fragments wildlife habitat primarily through the rapid expansion of human infrastructure. As metropolitan areas grow, natural land is plowed, graded, and paved to accommodate new residential and commercial developments.12

This process impacts ecosystems in several ways:

• Direct Destruction: The conversion of natural landscapes into impermeable surfaces—such as roads, parking lots, and buildings—directly removes the vegetation and soil necessary for native species to survive.2
• Fragmentation: Remaining natural areas are often reduced to small, isolated patches. This fragmentation separates wildlife populations, forcing animals to traverse dangerous, human-dominated landscapes to find essential resources like food or mates.2
• Hydrological Alteration: Streams are frequently channeled to improve drainage for new construction, which further degrades the quality of the environment for local wildlife.2

By increasing the physical footprint of cities, urban sprawl creates significant environmental challenges that threaten biodiversity and the integrity of natural ecosystems.13