“…The view that urbanization represents economic progress [ 123 ] has led many administrators and politicians, especially in lower-income countries, to embrace urban expansion policies with enthusiasm [ 136 ]. However, at the local level, there are serious concerns, even within government [ 108 ], that the wider implications of farmland loss are increasing food prices and imports, escalating rural poverty, land degradation and conflict [ 108 , 120 , 121 , 137 – 139 ], as well as the less appreciated impact of soil sealing [ 100 , 108 , 140 ], including poor sanitation, flooding and pollution, which disproportionately affect rural communities [ 141 , 142 ]. Much of the land consumed by urban sprawl is common land on which many rural communities depend [ 108 ].…”