Many people believe that sprawl is the inevitable outcome of population growth. However, careful planning and growth management policies can conserve wildlife habitat and quality of life by focusing development in already settled areas. Before we can stop sprawl we have to understand how it became so widespread. There were a number of crucial smart growth measures recently on the ballots. Costs of Sprawl Learn about just a sample of the negative effects of sprawl that touch everyone.
Sprawl is helped along by a series of public policies and government subsidies.
A recent Smart Growth America poll shows that Americans are concerned about sprawl. How Sprawl Harms Wildlife Read some case studies of species whose futures are threatened by the onset of sprawl. This article, written by NWF's Northern Forest Restoration Project Manager, surveys the many impacts of sprawling development on wildlife, biodiversity and ecosystems. A Lesson on Sprawl NWF's Animal Tracks program helps school teachers discuss sprawl and smart growth with their students. All rights reserved.