Chapter 24.1
Urban Development Land Use Impacts: How Cities Shape the Environment
Discover how urban expansion transforms farmland, wetlands, and natural habitatsand what communities can do to plan more sustainably.
What You'll Learn
Urban sprawl permanently converts fertile farmland into residential and commercial zones.
Wetland drainage eliminates natural flood protection and critical wildlife habitats.
Asphalt surfaces create urban heat islands and increase polluted stormwater runoff.
Smart growth and zoning ordinances help cities balance development with sustainability.
What You'll Practice
1
Students analyze consequences of converting farmland and wetlands for development.
2
Questions explore how industrial zones and parking lots affect local environments.
3
Learners identify key vocabulary including urban sprawl, zoning, and gentrification.
Why This Matters
Understanding urban development land use impacts equips students to analyze how city planning decisions affect ecosystems, food systems, and community well-being in the real world.
This Unit Includes
Practice exercises
Learning resources
Skills
Urban Sprawl
Zoning
Smart Growth
Habitat Loss
Land Use
OH Curriculum Aligned
