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Global impacts of future urban expansion on terrestrial vertebrate diversity

Environmental Studies and Forestry

Global impacts of future urban expansion on terrestrial vertebrate diversity

G. Li, C. Fang, et al.

Rapid urban expansion poses a serious threat to global biodiversity, with potential natural habitat loss reaching up to 33 million hectares by 2100. This study conducted by Guangdong Li, Chuanglin Fang, Yingjie Li, Zhenbo Wang, Siao Sun, Sanwei He, Wei Qi, Chao Bao, Haitao Ma, Yupeng Fan, Yuxue Feng, and Xiaoping Liu highlights urgent calls for sustainable urban development to protect our precious ecosystems.

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Playback language: English
Abstract
Rapid urban expansion significantly impacts global biodiversity. This study combines spatially explicit projections of urban expansion under shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs) with biodiversity datasets to assess future impacts. Results indicate substantial natural habitat loss (11–33 million hectares by 2100), disproportionate habitat fragmentation, and significant reductions in species richness and abundance. Urban expansion within key biodiversity areas will exceed the global average. The study underscores the urgent need for sustainable urban development to balance urban growth and biodiversity conservation.
Publisher
Nature Communications
Published On
Mar 25, 2022
Authors
Guangdong Li, Chuanglin Fang, Yingjie Li, Zhenbo Wang, Siao Sun, Sanwei He, Wei Qi, Chao Bao, Haitao Ma, Yupeng Fan, Yuxue Feng, Xiaoping Liu
Tags
urban expansion
biodiversity
natural habitat loss
species richness
habitat fragmentation

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