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Containing sprawl is not enough
Although sprawl and development cause many problems for fish and wildlife
(see Sprawl Threatens Wildlife and Habitat), remaining habitat in
developed areas can accommodate important elements of biodiversity. They may
contain rare plants and wildlife, provide connections and buffers to
conservation areas, and maintain ecological processes.
The emergence of the "smart growth" movement in the 1990s has drawn attention to the economic, social, and environmental benefits of compact development and the adverse impacts of sprawl. Smart growth provides a more clearly defined vision of development patterns in a given area. However, many of the smart growth principles do not provide clear benefits to fish and wildlife habitat. In fact, smart growth efforts may not address habitat issues at all.
Some principles - particularly minimizing the amount of land consumed by development and protecting open space - indirectly support biodiversity conservation. By promoting compact development and urban infill projects, sprawl is somewhat contained and the development of habitat, especially the larger blocks found outside of developed areas, is reduced. If development is not compact, then the human footprint on the landscape is much larger and habitat becomes more fragmented and degraded.
Open space protection also has some benefit to fish and wildlife. The Smart Growth Network defines open space as "natural areas both in and surrounding localities that provide important community space, habitat for plants and animals, recreational opportunities, farm and ranch land (working lands), places of natural beauty and critical environmental areas (e.g., wetlands)." From this definition open space includes wildlife habitat; however, the definition is broad and in reality the needs of wildlife are not adequately taken into account in smart growth efforts. Open spaces usually are not intended to provide habitat and are often managed for aesthetic, cultural, and recreational value. On the other hand, these areas may still provide fish and wildlife with foraging opportunities, resting stops, and connectivity to larger, more viable habitat.
Yet while smart growth principles mainly address how much land is consumed for development and what that pattern should look like, they often do not address which land should be developed, and which land should be managed primarily for conservation values (Wilkinson et al. In Press). Habitat and ecological concerns are infrequently integrated into local land use and community development plans (Wilkinson et al. In Press), and under some compact growth scenarios, adverse environmental impacts can be inadvertently exacerbated by forcing development into sensitive areas, like wetlands, riparian zones, and floodplains, within urban landscapes (Budnick 2001).
Historically, many major cities have been developed in riparian areas (i.e. along rivers) that harbor a disproportionately large percentage of biodiversity (Scott et al. 2001). In the arid landscapes of Arizona, as much as 75 percent of the wildlife species use and depend on riparian areas to sustain their populations (Pima County 2000). In Portland, Oregon, endangered salmon and steelhead and other aquatic species may be suffering because of dense development that is impacting their habitat within the region's urban growth boundary (Budnick 2001).
Therefore, really smart growth patterns would address habitat and
environmental quality issues and include conservation principles that direct
development away from ecologically sensitive areas. Adopting these practices
will help ensure that the diversity of plants and animals are preserved far into
the future.
Sprawling human settlements typically displace all but the most adaptable species of fish and wildlife.
More than one-third of wildlife species in the United States are considered in danger of extinction. The main threat to wildlife is habitat loss and fragmentation.
Smart growth patterns should address habitat and environmental quality issues and include conservation principles that direct development away from ecologically sensitive areas.
Large-scale biodiversity planning provides a pro-active approach to protecting areas large enough to preserve whole communities of wildlife and properly functioning ecological processes.
Conservation planners are developing biodiversity plans throughout the United States. Approaches vary considerably in scale, primary emphasis, purpose, goals, technical sophistication and level of participation.
A variety of tools can be used to protect habitat and biodiversity at the local level including acquisition, regulatory, and incentives mechanisms.
