In today’s century, urbanisation, that to at a rapid rate, has caused cities to evolve into vast sprawling “concrete jungles,” a phrase captures the unfortunate irony that our urban landscapes have become in the name of modernisation – rich in gigantic skyscrapers, but equally poor in maintaining flora and fauna. With such development, our species has made room for themselves, at the expense of the other innumerable species that inhabit the globe. The acceleration of urban sprawl over recent decades has posed a fundamental threat to biodiversity, stripping away forests, wetlands, and grasslands, transforming them into urban centres and infrastructure. Such dislocation from our ecosystems, and the biodiversity therein, is not just an ecological crisis, but also a physical one, since it is deteriorating everyone’s quality of life.
As cities grow, land that was once a haven to a vast range of species is reused for human habitation, industry, or agriculture, the consequences for which are endless:
The sounds of ecosystems—birdsong, buzzing of insects, or animal calls—are rapidly disappearing, a phenomenon now measurable through the emerging field of eco-acoustics. Professor Steve Simpson and Bernie Krause highlight that familiar natural sounds are becoming “acoustic fossils” as species vanish due to habitat destruction and climate change. For example, healthy coral reefs once buzzed with vibrant life but now fall silent after severe bleaching events and other stressors. This sonic loss reveals the decline in biodiversity and the urgency to protect natural habitats before they fall silent forever.[1]
The alteration of natural landscapes into urban areas displaces numerous species by fundamentally altering their habitats. For instance, India’s Western Ghats, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the world’s eight “hottest hotspots” of biological diversity[2] but faces threats due to expanding urbanisation and agriculture. Similarly, the Amazon Rainforest, often regarded as the “lungs of the Earth,” faces an ongoing loss of forest cover due to urban encroachment, which threatens countless species. This trend of rapid, unchecked development has stark consequences. According to the United Nations, approximately 1 million plant and animal species face the threat of extinction,[3] many within decades, primarily due to human activities.
In India, rapid urbanization has led to the encroachment of natural habitats, especially around major cities. For example, the construction of the Mumbai Coastal Road Project has raised concerns over its environmental impact. Mangroves, vital to coastal ecosystems, have been cut down or threatened by this construction. Mangrove ecosystems protect against coastal erosion, serve as nurseries for fish, and support various species, including endangered ones. Their destruction not only reduces biodiversity but also compromises coastal resilience, increasing the vulnerability of human populations to storms and flooding.
In the United States, the Florida Everglades—a subtropical wetland ecosystem—is a sanctuary for a wide array of species, including the Florida panther and the American crocodile. Urban development in southern Florida, particularly in cities like Miami, has led to habitat fragmentation, pollution, and altered water flow in the Everglades. This disruption in natural ecosystems has caused sharp declines in species population and increased vulnerability of native species to extinction. Efforts like the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) have been proposed to counteract this loss by restoring natural water flow, yet urban pressure remains a persistent challenge.
The degradation of biodiversity affects humans on many fronts, making it not only an environmental issue but a matter of public health and safety.
Urban development does not have to come at nature’s expense. By adopting a more sustainable, integrative approach, cities can accommodate both human populations and the natural world.
Cities can prioritize the creation of green spaces like parks, green roofs, and urban forests. Singapore’s “Garden City” model is a stellar example of this; with nearly half of its land area covered in greenery, Singapore has managed to balance urban development with conservation.
Ecological corridors are crucial for connecting fragmented habitats, allowing wildlife to migrate, breed, and thrive. Initiatives like the European Green Belt, stretching across 24 countries, aim to protect biodiversity while fostering sustainable development.
Building with Nature is an approach that promotes constructing infrastructure with natural processes in mind. For example, the Netherlands uses this concept for coastal defence through “sand motor” projects, which protect shorelines while allowing natural ecological processes to continue.
Incorporating biodiversity considerations into city planning and policy is key. Urban planners should account for local ecosystems and species in every development project, ensuring that new infrastructure is designed in a way that mitigates its impact on the natural environment. Cities like Portland and Vancouver have adopted sustainable urban planning strategies that integrate wildlife conservation goals.
Cities should embrace a commitment to environmental protection by recognizing that urban development can co-exist with biodiversity conservation. While it is tempting to focus solely on immediate economic gains, the long-term impacts of biodiversity loss could far outweigh these benefits. Collective action from city planners, governments, developers, and citizens is essential.
Urban inhabitants also play a role in this by supporting conservation efforts and choosing sustainable practices in their daily lives, such as reducing waste, planting local flora, and supporting green urban initiatives.
As our cities expand, we are faced with a stark choice: either continue with unsustainable development patterns or pursue a future where urban growth respects and preserves the natural ecosystems that sustain life on Earth. The “fading roar” of nature, displaced by concrete, serves as a reminder of what we stand to lose—a reminder that can, and should, fuel efforts to protect and preserve our planet’s biodiversity. Urban development and biodiversity conservation can and must go hand in hand to ensure a future where the human-made and natural worlds co-exist harmoniously.
[1] Phoebe Weston, ‘World Faces “Deathly Silence” of Nature as Wildlife Disappears, Warn Experts’ The Guardian (16 April 2024)
[2] Syndication Cloud, ‘A Bucket List of National Parks to Visit in India’ (29 May 2024)
[3] Eugene Marten, Waste (Dzanc Books 2013)
Author Shreeja Subhashish Mitra (23BAL127)