Urban Biodiversity and Green Spaces in Delhi: A Case Study of New Settlement and Lutyens' Delhi (original) (raw)
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Ecology, Environment and Conservation
'New Delhi' capital of India is under immense pressure to sustain increasing population and to cope up with urbanization. It has urban forests or ridges, which aids the Delhi's healthy lifestyle by balancing ecosystem. To assess the forest health the species composition, density, basal area, IVI, diversity indices, regeneration status of tree species were evaluated. Three sites namely Kamla Nehru Ridge (KR), Central Ridge (CR) and Southern Ridge (SR) were selected. A total of 51 tree species belonging to 21 families were reported. Species richness varied for trees (20-37), saplings (5-20) and seedlings (5-11). Densities ranged between (517-1043 Individuals/ha) for trees, saplings (133-470 Individuals/ha) and seedlings (53-273 Individuals/ha) respectively. Species diversity ranged between for trees (2.3-3.3), saplings (1.4-2.2) and seedlings (1.5-2.1). Total basal area varied from 4.87 to 22.94 m 2 /ha (trees), 0.26 to 0.49 m 2 /ha (saplings) and 0.17 to 0.02 m 2 /ha (seedlings). Maximum species (20-70%) showed 'no' regeneration whereas, (30-50%) showed 'poor' regeneration and only Acacia leucocephala showed 'fair' regeneration in SR. It was observed that Prosopis juliflora was the dominant species in all three sites; it is an exotic species which hinders the understory growth. All over regeneration status of Delhi's urban forest was found 'poor', which is a matter of concern. For balance environment and for proper inflow of ecosystem services provided by urban forest to sustain healthy lifestyle in city, it is necessary to implement proper strategies for conservation and maintenance of these forests.
Urban forestry in India: development and research scenario
Interdisciplinary Environmental Review, 2011
Urban green spaces are integral components of urban ecosystems, contributing to enhanced environmental quality, quality of life and sustainable urban development. Scientific evidences in the last two decades have emphasised the crucial necessity of green areas within urban social-ecological systems to ameliorate several problems of city-culture. Role of parks and gardens has become much more important in view of ever-increasing population of cities, particularly in developing countries. Tangible and intangible benefits provided by these green assets are often taken for granted by the public and some city authorities. Like other developing economies, India is being urbanised at a faster pace. Generally, cities of developing countries have lower per capita availability of urban green spaces in comparison to the developed countries. Urban forestry studies, involving technical and social science aspects are lacking in developing countries, including India. Per capita availability of urban green spaces in some important cities of India and need for urban forestry research on various aspects of urban greens of the country is discussed in the article.
Urban tree demographics of Pune City: an Analytical perspective
Cities are biodiversity hot spots due to the variety of habitats available in public and private open space. Trees are major urban infrastructure assets in urban area. Analysis of urban tree demographics is generally limited to inventories of tree structure and composition on urban lands. This approach provided valuable information for resource management. However, it does not account for related tree cover information within an urban landscape, thus providing insufficient information on ecological patterns. We propose evaluating tree population for an entire Pune city that is based on area dynamics. The relationship between ward size, tree and human demographics and their respective densities were graphically analysed. A ward-wise approach enables to evaluate demographic patterns and processes for the entire Pune city. In any comprehensive and fair analysis and calculation, urban trees are worth more than they cost.
Differences in tree species diversity along the rural-urban gradient in Bengaluru, India
Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 2019
Trees are invaluable and multifunctional elements of many land cover types. In urban areas trees serve particularly important ecological and environmental functions. In order to manage the multi-functionality of trees as efficiently as possible, biophysical information on the presence and distribution of species is helpful, as is general information about their provenance, utilization and services. This study examined the tree species diversity along the rural-urban gradient in the rapidly expanding megacity of Bengaluru, India, where the focus was on density and species composition. A number of 23 observation plots of 1-ha each in built-up environments were established within a 50 × 5 km transect running from the city center to the rural surroundings. Tree species diversity decreased with increasing distance to the city center due to the abundance of non-native ornamental tree species in the urban areas. The percentage of native species was about the same along the gradient (around 35% in urban, transition and rural areas). Our study offers a comprehensive description of tree species diversity along the rural-urban gradient in Bengaluru, which may bear connections, for example, to bird and insect diversity, and which may also be of interest and relevant for city planners and administrators as well as for researchers and the general public. Moreover, our study does adds to the relatively limited information available on this topic in South Asia and suggests a design that is transferable to other urban areas. In addition, we hope to raise a critical awareness that contributes to protecting and developing the unique tree cover in Bengaluru.
An Inventory of Multipurpose Avenue Trees of Urban Chandigarh, India
Trees in urban ecosystems play a vet2/significant role in environmental protection by checking air and noise pollntants, abating wind, and handling many other functions, in India, Chandigarh is the mosl modern and em,iromnentally safe city and qualifies to be called a GREEN CITY because of its rich tree component. This is so in spite of its high population density, currently over 9,443 people per square kin, perhaps the highest in the country. It has nearly 42,000 trees growing along the roads in a systematic manner. The drives are identified with the type of multipurpose tree species. Nearly 66 tree species (over half indigenous) are seen along the roadsides; these trees provide shade, timber, fuel, fodder, fruit, medicine, and other benefits. In addition, the city is decorated with 11 gardens harboring over 200 types of trees. The concept of urban forestry includes not only aesthct- This presentation aims at describing the rich diversity of ics, but also fmmtions for environmental...
URBAN TREE DIVERSITY OF KARWAR, KARNATAKA
Urban trees serve many useful functions such as climate change mitigation by carbon sequestration, air quality improvement by air pollution abatement, biodiversity conservation and source of ecosystem goods to urban inhabitants. They also have aesthetic, socio-religious and recreational value in urban contexts. In spite of the importance, they have not received much scientific attention. This paper investigates the diversity and density of tree species growing both within the built environment as well as roadside avenues in the seaside town of Karwar
Ecological benefits of urban forestry: The case of Kerwa Forest Area (KFA), Bhopal, India
Applied Geography, 2009
In developing countries like India, migration of people from rural to urban areas is responsible for ever expanding urban boundaries. This trend is exerting significant pressure on unprotected natural forests located near urban centers. This paper highlights the case of Kerwa Forest Area (KFA), located at about 10 km from the city of Bhopal, capital of Madhya Pradesh state. The objectives of this study are to quantify the extent of disturbance faced and ecosystem services provided by the KFA. Suitable spatial technologies and forest sampling techniques have been used to achieve the objectives of the study. It was found that the KFA is currently facing severe anthropogenic pressure. Parts of the KFA, located close to the settlements, were found more disturbed than the parts which were located far from the settlements. In spite of disturbances, KFA is a habitat for many threatened and endangered plant, animal, and bird species. KFA also plays a critical role of a carbon sink with a total storage of about 19.5 thousand tons of aboveground carbon. Immediate precautionary measures are required to prevent further degradation of the KFA for ensuring better environmental quality for the residents of Bhopal city in the future.
URBAN TREE DIVERSITY OF KARWAR, KARNATAKA, INDIA
International Journal of Engineering, Science and Mathematics, 2012
Urban trees serve many useful functions such as climate change mitigation by carbon sequestration, air quality improvement by air pollution abatement, biodiversity conservation and source of ecosystem goods to urban inhabitants. They also have aesthetic, socio-religious and recreational value in urban contexts. In spite of the importance, they have not received much scientific attention. This paper investigates the diversity and density of tree species growing both within the built environment as well as roadside avenues in the seaside town of Karwar which is the administrative headquarters of Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka. The total area of the town is 27.15 km 2 and population (2001 census) is 62,973.
Nusantara Bioscience, 2021
Kediri has several urban parks and an urban forest as green open space (GOS) which have essential roles in economical, social, aesthetical, and ecological aspects. Generally, urban trees provide ecosystem services, such as carbon sequestration, stormwater attenuation, energy conservation, habitat for wildlife, air, water, and noise pollutants reduction. The present study aimed to (i) determine tree diversity in five urban parks and an urban forest on Kediri City and (ii) evaluate the suitability of tree species based on three indicators (silviculture, management, and aesthetic). This study was conducted in five urban parks and one urban forest in Kediri City. The suitability assessment was carried out through a literature review. The results showed that 29 tree species belonging to 17 families were found in the study sites, with the family Fabaceae being the most dominant one with five species. The number of exotic tree species (17) was higher than that of the native ones (12). The suitability assessment results showed that 21 tree species had a high score of 39-44, and only eight urban tree species had a medium score of 36-38. The urban parks and urban forests in Kediri were managed for the conservation of germplasm, recreation, and protection. The shapes were clumped and line. This study will contribute information to be used as guidance for urban tree management and policy framework.
City–forest relationship in Nagpur: One of the greenest cities of India
There are sporadic reports on urban forests in Indian cities. Nagpur is one of the greenest cities of India with 18 per cent of its area under forests and plantations, 17 per cent under cultivation and 2 per cent under water bodies. The present study showed that natural vegetation of the city is very well diversified with a representation of 59 per cent vegetation including 124 trees species belonging to 38 families as compared with the overall district vegetation statistics. Air quality in the city is relatively better with lower SO 2 (6 g/m 3 ), NO 2 (18 g/m 3 ) and Respirable Suspended Particulate Matters (RSPM, 53 g/m 3 ) as against National Ambient Air Quality Standards (2009) for cities in India of 80, 80 and 100 g/m 3 , respectively. It was also noted that the diversity in natural forests which are being protected is greater than the plantations undertaken by the civic authorities and private sector efforts. The study thus demonstrated the positive relationship of the city with diversified vegetation cover for cleaner environment. The analysis is expected to guide formulation of strategies for maintaining green space in the city.