Which ecosystem services can be lost when natural land is converted into urban development?

When natural land is converted into urban development through urban sprawl, several critical ecosystem services—the processes of natural systems that benefit human welfare—are diminished or lost.

Key services impacted include:

• Flood Regulation: Natural landscapes, such as wetlands and permeable soils, naturally absorb water. Replacing these with impermeable surfaces like roads and roofs increases runoff, which elevates the risk of local flooding.1
• Water Purification: Vegetation and soil act as natural filters. When these are replaced by pavement, pollutants are carried by runoff into water systems, reducing water quality and harming aquatic ecosystems.1
• Carbon Sequestration: Terrestrial plants and soils play a vital role in the global carbon budget through photosynthesis. Land clearing for development reduces the earth's capacity to store carbon, contributing to global warming.2
• Habitat Support: The destruction of natural habitats disrupts the survival of native species, reducing biodiversity and the ecological stability that supports human environments.12