Habitat and Sprawl
Sprawling human settlements -- rapidly growing, low density,
automobile-dependent communities that consume land beyond the edges of existing
towns and cities -- typically displace all but the most adaptable species of fish
and wildlife. In this section, we will examine the threats to wildlife habitat
caused by sprawl, discuss strategies to curb these threats, describe existing
programs already at work, offer recommendations for future planning efforts, and
suggest a number of tools to implement conservation strategies.
Sprawl threatens wildlife and habitat
More than
one-third of the known species in the United States are considered in danger of
extinction. The main threat to these species, and biodiversity in general, is
habitat loss and fragmentation.
Read more >Containing sprawl is necessary but not sufficient to
address wildlife habitat needs
Development should be steered away from
ecologically sensitive areas in order for biodiversity to thrive and to allow
properly functioning ecological and ecosystem processes.
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>Landscape scale habitat conservation
strategies
Local conservation efforts will be most effective if they
are part of broader, landscape scale habitat conservation
strategies. Ecological needs are most appropriately addressed at broad scales,
such as regional or state levels.
Read more >Examples of conservation planning at multiple scales
The number of conservation strategies in the U.S. that address both sprawl
and wildlife habitat protection is growing. These plans and programs vary in
approach and purpose and range from local to multi-state in scale.
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>Implementation Tools
This section includes descriptions
of implementation tools in the categories of acquisition, regulation, and
incentives that can be used to protect ecologically sensitive areas on both
public and private lands.
Read more >
