How do urbanization and land use change affect ecosystem services ?
The text discusses the impact of urbanization and land use change on ecosystem services, including provisioning, regulating, cultural, and supporting services. It highlights how these changes can lead to decreased water supply, reduced food production, negative effects on climate regulation and flood control, loss of recreational opportunities and cultural values, and disruption of soil formation and nutrient cycling. Mitigation strategies such as green infrastructure, sustainable urban planning, and land stewardship are suggested to minimize these negative impacts and maintain essential ecological functions.