IOSR Journal of Environmental Science, Toxicology and Food Technology (IOSR-JESTFT) e-ISSN: 2319-2402,p- ISSN: 2319-2399.Volume 14, Issue 5 Ser. II (May 2020), PP 18-23 www.iosrjournals.org DOI: 10.9790/2402-1405021823 www.iosrjournals.org 18 | Page A Review of Impacts of Urban Settlement Growth on the Environment 1* Imaitor, E. E., 2 Dr. Ayotamuno, A., 3 Prof. Owei, O. B., 4 Dr. Hart, L. 1. PhD student in Faculty of Environmental Management Institute of geosciences and Space Technology Rivers State University Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, Nigeria. 2. Research Fellow Institute of Geosciences and Space Technology Rivers State University Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, Nigeria. 3. Prof. of Urban and Regional Planning Faculty of Environmental Science. Dept of Urban and Regional Planning Rivers State University Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, Nigeria. 4. Senior Lecturer Dept of Surveying Faculty of Environmental Sciences Rivers State University Nkpolu- oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Abstract: The importance of the urban environment cannot be over emphasized because communities must develop and make progress irrespective of the fact that the impacts of settlement growth may be positive or negative on the urban environment. The objective of this research was to perform a scholarly review of empirical literature on assessment of urban settlement growth and its impact on the urban environment. Documentary data with regards to the research was obtained from various academic journal publications and other secondary sources reviewed. The reviews showed that much work has been carried out on urbanization, urban growth and the urban environment. However, much more still needs to be done on the assessment of urban settlement growth and its impact on the urban environment. The methodologies adopted in most of the studies were not adequate or clearly defined, though. This study recommended that more research should be carried out on the assessment of urban settlement growth and its impact on the urban environment and that the methodologies adopted for data collection should cover more than one method. Keywords: Settlement Growth, Urban Environment, Settlement. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date of Submission: 04-05-2020 Date of Acceptance: 18-05-2020 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I. Introduction UN (2008) projected that from 2010, that almost all urban growth in the world’s population will be in urban centers in low and medium income nations. World population is on the increase especially in urban centers, with about 60% of the population of third world countries estimated to live in cities (Jinadu, 2015). In developing countries, urbanization is a process that is accompanied by informal settlements growth, rural-urban migration, inadequate infrastructure and urban services, especially in undeveloped nations. Urban population in Nigeria as estimated would reach 68% of the total population by the year 2020 (Owei, 2017). The population growth comes in two dimensions; first is the rise in the number of settlement with population of at least 20,000 (the official Government definition of urban centers) and the second dimension are those whose populations are more than One million or more people. The numbers of urban centers were observed to have increased from 359 in 1991 to 450 by the year 2000 (Owei 2017). Jinadu (2015) agreed that the population of urban centers in Nigeria has been on the increase; in 2012 the percentage of urban population increased from 50% in 2012 and it is projected to increase to 57.9 percent by 2025. This suggests continues growth of urban settlement in Nigeria. A settlement is any form of human habitation from a single to the largest city. They could be either rural or urban. Settlement growth occurs where the original community population has grown enough due to birth rate or new people moving in to require that new buildings are built to house them or existing building be made larger to accommodate move people (Schetkes et al., 2011). Migration is an important factor to consider when disusing settlement growth since migration occurs when people with the desire for better condition of living and other factors move from one place to another. It could be in form of rural-urban migration or urban- urban migration (Marsh (1996) thus suggesting that improved transportation systems and good health facilities to help contribute to rural-urban migration. People may move as a result of one or more “Push or Pull factors”. Push factors such as improved economic condition, religion, ethnic or political intolerance could be as a result of conflict, while the pull factors such as improved economic opportunities could also attract people to a place. An urban settlement is defined as a demographically large, relatively densely populated built up area (Sean et al., 2015). Various factors are responsible for urban settlement growth. Savani and Bhatt (2016)