Urban

Densely built-up environments with very high populations

The urban anthrome is characterized by high population density (≥2500 persons per square kilometer) and development density (≥ 20% urban land cover), with a range of structures such as buildings, roads, parks, and other infrastructure. Urban anthromes can include both manicured and highly managed landscapes, as well as abandoned or neglected areas, and may have a range of vegetation cover types, from natural to highly managed green spaces.\\Urban anthromes can differ based on the level of vegetation and human influence, with some urban areas having highly lush green spaces and trees, while others may be more concrete and urbanized. Within urban anthromes, there can be a range of microhabitats, which are essential to maintaining urban biodiversity and supporting the overall health and wellbeing of the urban environment. As of 2017 CE, the urban anthrome houses the largest percentage of global population while occupying the smallest percentage of land area. Urban habitat, along with the rice village anthrome, incorporates the lowest percentage of key biodiversity area but ranks higher for protected area percentage than rice villages and residential irrigated croplands. Urban anthrome land contributes little to global food production, but it provides more calories than eight other anthrome types. This anthrome stores the third lowest percentage of carbon of all anthrome classes, likely due to the transition of vegetated land to developed land.