Urbanization: Difference between revisions
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Urbanization often increases the potential for [[forest fire|wildland fires]] as planting and irrigation of landscaping trees and plants occurs over the years. The devestating East Bay Hills Fire in [[Oakland, California]] and [[Berkeley, California]] in 1991 was one instance where lush vegetation in a suburban neighborhood in the wildland/urban intermix resulted in a serious fire. |
Urbanization often increases the potential for [[forest fire|wildland fires]] as planting and irrigation of landscaping trees and plants occurs over the years. The devestating East Bay Hills Fire in [[Oakland, California]] and [[Berkeley, California]] in 1991 was one instance where lush vegetation in a suburban neighborhood in the wildland/urban intermix resulted in a serious fire. |
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Urbanization, especially in the western United States, often brings people into contact with wildlife such as [[deer]], (often [[hunting]] is not permitted and deer become quite tame) and [[puma|mountain lions]] the natural predator of deer (and pets such as dogs and cats). As the lions become at home in the urban setting they sometimes turn to people too as a source of food. [http://www.nytimes.com/2002/11/12/science/life/12COUG.html?todaysheadlines]. This turn of events is as yet rare, but as the estimated 30,000 puma in the western United States gradually expand their range to the eastern United States, it is a source of concern. |
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Revision as of 15:33, 12 November 2002
Urbanization is the process of settlement of families in attractive rural settings in resort areas or near urban centers. Urbanization has profound effects on the ecology of a region and on its economy. "Urban sprawl" is a derogatory term used by opponents of urbanization especially for low-density urban development which they view as unsightly and undesirable.
As to the economy, the most striking immediate effect is a dramatic increase in rents, often pricing the local working class out of the market, including such functionaries as the local employees of the local municipalities and service providers such as supermarkets and schools. Dramatic increases in land values also encourage further development. Often mechanisms such as zoning or growth control or creation of an urban growth boundary attempt to mitigate such trends but often aggravate them as restricted supply results in inflated land and housing prices.
Urbanization has in the United States affected the Rocky Mountains in locations such as Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Telluride, Colorado, Taos, New Mexico, Douglas County, Colorado and Aspen, Colorado. The lake district of northern Minnesota has also been affected as has Vermont, the coast of Florida, and the barrier islands of North Carolina.
In the United Kingdom, two major examples of urbanization can be seen in Swindon, Wiltshire and Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire. These two towns some of the fastest growth rates in Europe.
Urbanization often increases the potential for wildland fires as planting and irrigation of landscaping trees and plants occurs over the years. The devestating East Bay Hills Fire in Oakland, California and Berkeley, California in 1991 was one instance where lush vegetation in a suburban neighborhood in the wildland/urban intermix resulted in a serious fire.
Urbanization, especially in the western United States, often brings people into contact with wildlife such as deer, (often hunting is not permitted and deer become quite tame) and mountain lions the natural predator of deer (and pets such as dogs and cats). As the lions become at home in the urban setting they sometimes turn to people too as a source of food. [1]. This turn of events is as yet rare, but as the estimated 30,000 puma in the western United States gradually expand their range to the eastern United States, it is a source of concern.
External Links