Urbanization = biod Loss

Uncontrolled urbanization causes the negative impact on the biodiversity (Tang et al. 2020). Due to increased amount of urbanization, the area of forest and wildlife habitat converted into the urban area which result into habitat fragmentation and loss (Cincotta et al. 2000). Habitat fragmentation and loss directly affect the biodi- versity (Peng et al. 2019). Loss of habitat creates force on migration of wildlife animal and it decline the rate of biodiversity (Almond et al. 2020). Due to the habitat loss, some animals cannot survive, leading to the decline of the area’s biodiversity. Moreover, urbanization creates a selective force that changes the wildlife commu- nities (Ouyang et al. 2018). Urbanization also creates the geographic isolation of species which disturb the whole life of the species as well as it also affect their dispersal and connectivity of native species (Johnson and Munshi-South 2017). Change in the habitat configura- tion results in the introduction of the alien or invasive species, affecting the native or endemic species. The indirect effect of expanding urban areas includes soil quality and physical transformation. Change in land use pattern also changes the soil component, which affects soil nutrient availability. Moreover, urbanization causes the abiotic stress by increasing air pollution, water pollution, invasive species and enhances the predation rates (Elmqvist et al. 2019). Therefore, understanding the impact of urbanization on biodiversity becomes imperative from the point of view of conservation and planning sustainable cities. This chapter delivers to understand the effect of urbanization on biodiversity. All animals interact with their environment for energy gain and loss, protection, and for various other reasons. Yet, in recent years, the world’s human population has grown so rapidly that natural resources have been depleted, the environment degraded, and animal habitats have been destroyed. Land use, topography, and population change are the main factors that cause environmen- tal degradation. Consequently, there will be a decline or even extinction of wildlife species used for food and business purposes. There can be no saving of wildlife that is a crucial part of biodiversity unless we address and resolve the issues that are propelling their extinction. Gujarat State covers an area of 6.1% of the country’s total geographical location and accounts for 4.9% of the total population. Situated on the Northwestern sea coast, it has the most extensive coastline of 1600 km, concealed in two of the three gulfs of the country (Bajpai 2004; Faizi and Ravichandran 2017). It also shares an international boundary with Pakistan in the North. The maritime location and long coastline have considerably influenced its people’s climate, life, and activities. The mainland of Gujarat on account of its geographical advantages and historical developments has favored the concentration of urban population to 67%. Among the seven micro-geographical regions based on topography, climate, and soils, the Eastern Hilly Region covers an elongated hilly, wooded territory of the Dangs, Eastern parts of Valsad, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Panchmahal and Banaskantha district. Great Indian Bustard Population Decrease: In grassland ecosystems, fragmenta- tion and habitat loss, change in land use/land cover pattern, desertification, harmful- thought plantation of invasive and exotic species, and neglect of state institutions due to classification of “grasslands” as “wastelands”, conversion of grasslands to agriculture lands due to increasing irrigation potential and decline of nature/GIB- friendly farming practices, are all commonly and correctly responsible for the continual decline in India’s GIB population. Many other birds also die due to the collision/electrocution with these transmission lines at the rate of 10 birds per km per month totaling nearly 1 lakh bird deaths annually in 4200 sq. km. Listing out other threats to the Great Indian Bustard, farming technology and irrigation, wind turbines, mining, and connected infrastructure development have caused severe habitat degradation to birds. However, other factor is the noise pollution, which is also adversely affecting the prospects of the Great Indian Bustard’s revival (The Hindu news 2019). The WII report said the GIB population has been reduced by 75% in the last 30 years. As a result of their poor vision and inability to see power lines from a distance, adult GIBs are extremely vulnerable to collisions with power lines that cross their flight paths (The Hindu news 2019). As people interfere more with areas where birds nest and colonize, the population of these birds is declining. The results of studies done by Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) and Wildlife Institute of India (WII) of factors most responsible for the decline of several bird species reveal that grasslands and forests, like wetlands most other habitats such as grasslands and forests, also face severe threat due to developmental pressures. Over the past decades, the drastic loss of grassland habitat has severely threatened species such as the Great Indian Bustard, Siberian Cranes, Bengal Florican, and Jerdon’s Courser McKee et al. (2004) and Flörke et al. (2018) have predicted that maximum urban growth is expected to occur in regions around the world’s biodiversity hotspots. They have also analyze the critical demographic variable and reported that about 20% of the world’s population resides in biodiver- sity hotspot regions. Therefore, predicting patterns of urban developmental in areas of rich biodiversity are essential for conservation.