3. INTRODUCTION
• Urbanization is a population shift from rural to urban areas
• Towns and cities are formed and become larger as more
people live and work in these cities.
• Large areas of land and vegetations are cleared to put up
residential and industrial structures.
• Ecosystem is a biological community of interacting
organisms and their environment
6. “The impacts of urbanization on native species are
poorly studied, but educating a highly urbanized
human population about these impacts can greatly
improve species conservation in all Ecosystems.”
(McKinny 2002)
7. EFFECTS OF URBANIZATION
• Economic Effects
- Employment
- High cost of living
• Social Effects
- Provision of institutions like hospitals, banks and schools
- Increase crime rates
- Living in slums
8. EFFECTS OF URBANIZATION (CONT’D)
• Health Effects
- Poor Sanitation
- Outbreak of contagious diseases
• Environmental Effects
- Urban heat islands
- Pollution
9. EFFECT OF URBANIZATION ON THE ECOSYSTEM
Habitat destruction (Terrestrial and aquatic)
• Terrestrial
- Loss of existing vegetation
- Fragmentation of habitats and vegetation
- Competition for resources
10. • Aquatic
- Building on water bodies
- Construction of bridges
- Release of pollutants from construction sites into water bodies
Pollution (Water, Air, Land, Heat and Noise)
• Water pollution
- Pollution during construction and waste disposal
- Eutrophication
11. • Air pollution
-The quality of air is affected and this can result in respiratory
diseases
-The release of gases like sulphur and nitrogen into the atmosphere
can result in acid rain through reaction with atmospheric water
• Land pollution
- Landfill sites
- Leakages from underground fuel and septic tanks
12. • Heat pollution
- Urban heat islands
- Release of hot fluids into water bodies
• Noise pollution
- Traffics
-Hawkers
- Industries
-Households
16. According to McKinny (2002), studies has shown that
animal species are most affected by urbanization. He
stated that the level of urbanization determines the
effect on the ecosystem. He concluded that moderate
urbanization rather increase species richness in plant
because of introduction by human activities, but this
reduces with high levels of urbanization and
disturbance.
17. CONCLUSION
• Urbanization is of great importance to the economy,
but must be controlled
• The impacts of urbanization are very significant on the
ecosystem
• There should be measures to reduce the effects of
urbanization on the environment.
