Article - Bio Diversity Due To Rapid

Urbanization :-

By Rounak Joshi

Urbanization is the growth of cities and towns in which more

people live, work, and develop new homes, roads, and
infrastructure. In fact, it's the very rapid growth of cities as
populations increase in many parts of the world, particularly
developing countries. But at the same time, there are
fundamental impacts on biodiversity-that's the variety of
living things on our planet, including flora, fauna, fungi, and
even microorganisms. Biodiversity is very essential because it
maintains biodiversity, provides food and water, clean air, and
the general health of the environment. When cities expand
rapidly, they damage biodiversity in many ways. Let's see how
urbanization impacts biodiversity and why we must conserve
it. Habitat Loss One of the greatest effects of urbanization is
habitat loss. When the cities expand, they naturally occupy
forests, grasslands, wetlands, and many other natural places
to give room for buildings, roads, and factories. This is
referred to as "land conversion." When the natural places are
destroyed, plants and animals that lived there before lose
their habitat. Some animals, such as birds or squirrels, can
easily adapt to the city way of life, while others cannot. The
disappearance of habitats renders entire ecosystems not only
disturbed but even puts the lives of individual animals or
plants at stake. As in the case of a forest area being cut down
to pave the way for a new neighbourhood, one may see what
appears to be some bird species scrambling to look for
alternative places to live and survive. Either they must move
to new homes (which, depending on how distant the other
forests are, may not be possible), or they may succumb to
death. Over time, this reduces species diversity in the area.
Reduction of Species Diversity There are usually many
varieties of species in natural habitats. However, in cities, only
a few types of plants and animals usually survive. Typically,
these are species that can tolerate living close to human
populations, such as pigeons, rats, and some insects. Thus,
cities normally receive fewer species, or lower biodiversity
than natural ecosystems. Loss of variety is damaging because
each species performs a function in the ecosystem, and loss
of variety has implications to all. For example, bees pollinate
flowers, and some birds function to control insects'
populations. When biodiversity drops, the balance between
those ecosystems deteriorates. This upsets nature's healthy
function. Invasive Species Sometimes, urban areas can be
unwittingly introduced to non-native or invasive species - that
are organisms which do not naturally occur in a location. This
happens when plants or animals are brought to cities for
landscaping purposes and other sorts of trade purposes;
more often than not, they enter cities accidentally-through
ships or cargo. Some of these species adapt very well to
urban life, and they may outcompete native species for food,
water, and space. They can move very aggressively, especially
areas where the local species has been already stressed by
urbanization. It spreads very fast making the native plants or
animals to decline or disappear completely. For example,
some cities have noted the invasion of very fast growing
plants that have suppressed the native plants. This greatly
reduces biodiversity. Pollution With the growth of cities
comes increased pollution. There are many types of pollution,
including air from automobiles and factories, water from
waste, and soil from chemicals and garbage. Each of these is
said to have a different effect on biodiversity: Air Pollution
Smog and chemicals in the air can harm animals and plants.
For example, clean air is used by plants in photosynthesis to
produce food. When air is polluted, those plants will not
survive and that same food the animals rely on for survival.
Water Pollution: Waste coming from industries, agricultural
runoff, and domestic refuse can also find its way into rivers,
lakes, and oceans. This is very devastating to fish, frogs, and
many other aquatic pets. The plants living close to such water
bodies also are affected due to polluted water. Soil Pollution:
These chemicals from construction, agriculture, or waste can
seep into the ground, making it hard for plants to grow. Soil
pollution also harms the insects and microorganisms living in
the soil, which is a very important component for breaking
down organic material and enriching the soil. Habitat
Fragmentation Urbanization not only destroys habitats but
also fragments them into small patches; it fragments them.
The now-large, homogenous urban area leaves us with
fragmented small, separate pieces of natural habitats. This
may be hurtful to biodiversity as big areas are required by
animals for food, mates, and shelter. Habits that are
fragmented usually trap animals in small lots of habitat with
minimal food and other resources. They may not be able to
travel to other parts of their habitat because roads, buildings,
or other obstacles stand in the way. Some habitats are
fragmented. This is true for many large species, including
wolves or deer, that need a lot of space for their territories.
Again, when it is small animals like frogs or turtles that need
to move from one place to another during specific seasons,
fragmentation is also an issue. In general, fragmented
habitats lead to reduced populations. Reduced populations
also have harder times surviving over the long term, as they
have fewer individuals to reproduce and keep the population
up. Climate Change and Urban Heat Islands Urban areas are
also in a contribution to climate change since they release a
large quantity of greenhouse gases that are produced from
different vehicles, factories, and different heating systems.
Climate change highly determines biodiversity. For instance,
with the warmer temperature and weather, some habitats
may seem unfit for some species. Some animals and plants
may not survive in the area since the climate has changed for
a long to trigger a certain temperature range at which it exists
in. Cities also create "urban heat islands," meaning they are
often warmer than surrounding rural areas. Buildings,
asphalt, and concrete absorb and retain heat, making the city
environment harsher for many species. Only a few types of
plants and animals can survive these hotter conditions, which
further reduces biodiversity. Preserving Biodiversity in Urban
Areas Despite all these challenges, biodiversity can be
protected in urban areas. For this purpose, numerous cities
presently stress the significance of developing green areas,
mainly parks and gardens, as well as green roofs. These areas
offer habitat for plants and animals and make a city more
livable to people, too. Other strategies to protect the urban
biodiversity are: Wildlife Corridors: Green pathways connect
fragmented habitats, allowing free movement of animals. Use
of Native Plants in Landscaping: Parks and gardens use native
plants, creating better habitats for local insects, birds, and
other wildlife. Pollution Level Reduction: Improvement of
waste management, promotion of public transport, and
production of clean energy will decrease the pollution level in
the cities and help both people and wildlife. Promotion of
urban agriculture. Community gardens and rooftop farms
contribute to local biodiversity besides attracting pollinators
and greenifying the city.

Thanking you
Rounak Joshi