What Is Habitat Fragmentation?

On a global scale, wildlife habitats are facing severe destruction and degradation in many complex and interconnected ways. Here’s a look at habitat fragmentation and what we can do to fix it.

Ecologists define habitat fragmentation as “the division of habitat into smaller and more isolated fragments separated by a matrix of human-transformed land cover.” Habitat fragmentation can be caused by natural events as well, but is more often—and too frequently—caused by human activities. Causes of habitat fragmentation include development and construction, mining, logging, agriculture, and urban sprawl.

A simple example would be a road through a forest. That path effectively cuts that forest habitat into two smaller fragments. As the road branches out, it continues to cut off pieces and isolate sections of habitat from each other, creating more “edges” and eroding the core of the habitat. When habitats are fragmented, species are prevented from crossing into other fragmented sections.

This leads to a loss of habitat overall, a decline in habitat quality within each fragment, and an increased extinction risk. The isolation of species and resulting changes in the ecosystem lead to biodiversity loss and habitat degradation. Fragmentation can be harmful for humans, too, as increased habitat encroachment elevates the risk of novel disease emergence. Finally, habitat fragmentation can exacerbate climate change by reducing essential ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration.

And yet habitat fragmentation continues to worsen, and is felt in every environment from the Amazon to the Arctic. One study found that “more than 70% of the world’s forests are within 1 km of a forest edge.”

Habitat Fragmentation Solutions

As habitats fragment and degrade around the globe, it is crucial that we take steps to protect vital habitats wherever and however we can. We can accomplish this by advocating for policy that prevents or reduces development in wild areas, supporting habitat conservation, and protecting native environments.

The effects of habitat fragmentation can also be mitigated by the introduction of wildlife corridors, also known as habitat corridors. These can look like bridges built over roads, except that instead of the bridge being topped with asphalt, it’s covered in native vegetation. This creates a link between habitat fragments, allowing for more interaction and exchange of species.

These solutions are important ways to fight habitat fragmentation and promote animal and human health around the world.

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