URBANIZATION , HABITAT LOSS AND BIODIVERSITY DECLINE Solution pathways to break the cycle

The interactions between urbanization with biodiversity and ecosystem services that take place defy simple generalizations. There is increasing evidence for the negative impacts of urbanization on biodiversity, most directly in the form of habitat loss and fragmentation. Recent forecasts suggest that the amount of urban land near protected areas is expected to increase, on average, by more than three times between 2000 and 2030 {from 450,000 km2 c. 2000) around the world. During the same time period, the urban land in biodiversity hotspots, areas with high concentrations of endemic species, will increase by about four times on average. However, there is also ample evidence pointing to. opportunities to shape urbanization strategies in a way to reconcile urban development and.biodiversity conservation strategies {Elmqvist et al. 2013). While gaps in knowledge and practice remain, an increasing number of studies scrutinize the interactions of urbanization with biodiversity and ecosystem services at local, regional and global scales.