Tree size comparison of some important street trees growing at different sites of Karachi City, Pakistan

Muhammad Zafar Iqbal,Mohammad Athar,Muhammad Kabir,Amber Khan,Zia-Urrehman Farooqi,Muhammad Shafiq

doi:10.4314/jasem.v20i2.28

Abstract

The importance of trees in urban environment is now widely recognized as they cleanse the particulate air pollution and help to make cities and towns more agreeable places to dwell upon. A detailed survey was conducted to study the size of Alstonia scholaris, Azadirachta indica, Bombax ceiba, Cassia fistula, Eucalyptus sp., Ficus benghalensis, Ficus religiosa and Guaiacum officinale trees in the urban environment of Karachi, Pakistan. Results showed a wide range of variation in tree diameter breast height (17.12-65.50 cm) at M. A. Jinnah Road, University Road (near Hassan Square), North Nazimabad and Karachi University Campus, respectively. A. indica, Eucalyptus sp., and F. benghalensis showed less dbh (tree diameter breast height) at M. A. Jinnah Road as compared to University Road (near Hassan Square), North Nazimabad and Karachi University Campus, respectively. G. officinale growing at University Road (near Hassan Square) showed ess tree dbh as compared to M. A. Jinnah Road and Karachi University campus. Similarly, the tree size of B. ceiba and A. scholaris was recorded less at Nazimabad as compared to M. A. Jinnah Road, University Road (near Hassan Square) and Karachi University Campus, respectively. C. fistula growing at North Nazimabad site showed low tree dbh as compared to University Road (near Hassan Square) site. A. scholaris growing at Karachi University Campus site showed highest dbh value as compared to all studied sites. The tree size of G. officinale was recorded highest at M. A. Jinnah Road as compared to North Nazimabad, University Road (near Hassan Square) and Karachi University Campus, respectively. Whereas, Eucalyptus sp. and F. benghalensis recorded highest dbh at North Nazimabad site as compared to M. A. Jinnah Road, University Road (near Hassan Square) and Karachi University Campus, respectively. More research is needed on these trees for healthy environment of city. The present study recommends for the complete documentation of tree species growing in city. Such information will be useful to identify characteristics that can be used to select tree species that are better suited for planting on other areas of the city. These findings can be helpful for arboriculturists, environmental scientists and town planners when working on plantation in the selected area.Keywords: Circumference, diameter at breast height, size, roadside tree, urban environment, Pakistan

Highlights

It is well known that urban trees produce various types of benefits and costs (Soares et al, 2011) and most of the environmental benefits associated with urban trees (Semenzato et al, 2011)
Measurement of tree size, diameter, circumferences, frequencies, health assessment phenology, age, thickness and growth performances observed by researchers (Alméras et al, 2005; Baker, 1997; Bertram, 1989; Cannell et al, 1988; Cao et al, 2010; Iqbal et al, 1994; Lie et al, 2009; Shafiq and Iqbal, 1999, 2003; Shafiq et al, 2009; William et al, 2007)
Comparisons of current and historical tree species composition and size structure along natural productivity gradients are useful for inferring effects of disturbance regimes and productivity on patterns of succession (Surrette et al, 2008)

Summary

Introduction

It is well known that urban trees produce various types of benefits and costs (Soares et al, 2011) and most of the environmental benefits associated with urban trees (Semenzato et al, 2011). As the ecology of urban systems has been increasing studied, many physical, Measurement of tree size, diameter, circumferences, frequencies, health assessment phenology, age, thickness and growth performances observed by researchers (Alméras et al, 2005; Baker, 1997; Bertram, 1989; Cannell et al, 1988; Cao et al, 2010; Iqbal et al, 1994; Lie et al, 2009; Shafiq and Iqbal, 1999, 2003; Shafiq et al, 2009; William et al, 2007). There is important information that must be included in tree survey This includes reference number of tree, name of the tree either common or specific, height of trees, stem of diameter, age of the trees, structural condition of the trees, management recommendation for the trees, safe useful life expectance of the trees, color coding and categorizing of the trees by letter, removal of trees and retention of the trees on the base of above data (Jackston, 2010)

Methods

Results

Conclusion