Infrastructure development is a growing problem

Helda Costa/SPEA Large dams and barrages are an increasing threat to wetland-dependent birds Zoom In

Our ever-spreading infrastructure – such as housing, industry, dams and transport networks – is destroying and degrading natural habitats. Unless properly planned, designed and managed, infrastructure often facilitates expansion of potentially damaging activities such as logging, agriculture and fires.

The development of infrastructure threatens biodiversity world-wide

Infrastructure is the central nervous system of our world and the most obvious footprint of human activity. The expansion of the human-built environment into the natural one – infrastructure development – has a significant negative impact on biodiversity, mainly through the destruction, degradation and fragmentation of natural habitats. It has been identified as a key threat to many bird species (see box 1). Ramifying networks of housing, transport, energy and telecommunications infrastructure facilitate the spread and intensification of many human activities that threaten biodiversity, such as deforestation, agriculture and over-exploitation.

Dams and barrages are an increasing threat

The demand for clean water is increasing rapidly in our densely populated world. Careful development of hydrological infrastructure is ever more important. However, dams, barrages, embankments and other major hydro-engineering schemes often have serious impacts on river-basin ecosystems. Large dams in particular have had widespread negative impacts on biodiversity, and have disrupted many existing ecosystem services (box 2).

Human colonisation increases the threat from fire

People have used fire to alter habitats since pre-history, and the spread of fire traces human colonisation across the world. Fire is a natural phenomenon in many habitats. However, the increased access and human activity accompanying infrastructure development have led to major changes in the fire regime in many regions. This often has disastrous consequences for local biodiversity (box 3).

Artificial structures kill millions of birds each year

Especially when on migration, birds are susceptible to flying into and being killed by all kinds of artificial structures, from fences to electric pylons and wind farms. Larger birds are also vulnerable to electrocution on poorly designed power lines. Many casualties are of common species, but collisions and electrocutions can also have significant impacts on threatened birds (box 4). Often, deaths could be avoided through better design and the use of simple bird protection devices.

Boxes: case studies and scientific analyses

Download SOWB pp.38–39 (PDF, 407 KB) containing the following:

1. Threatened birds indicate the looming consequences of unchecked infrastructure development
The ten countries in Asia with the highest percentage of their GTBs impacted by agricultural development

2. Large dams and barrages are an increasing threat to wetland-dependent birds
Wetlands of international importance for birds that are threatened by dams, barrages and embankments in Africa, Europe and the Middle East

3. In Australia, human-caused fires are linked to the extinction or decline of many bird species
Noisy Scub-bird avoids areas that suffer from frequent fires

4. Collisions and electrocutions: real threats for migrating and young birds
A number of examples inc. Swift Parrots in Australia, tower collisions in the US, and power line collisions in Europe, central Asia and Africa