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International Conference on

Recent Trends in Environmental Sustainability

ESCON22/SAgri/40

An approach to access tree diversity changes in urban parks and its consequences on
sustainable functioning of urban ecosystem
Muhammad Umair Shafique, Adnan Younis, Muhammad Asad Shabbir*, Ahsan Akram, M.Asif,
Rao M. Aftab Jamil
Institute of Horticultural Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad.

Correspondence: asadshabbir199@gmail.com
Abstract

Urban Parks are the major component of urban green infrastructure. They are the sites of the
entertainment and relaxation for urban dwellers and act as an indicator of urban ecological
health. In this study, 6 urban parks divided into two categories Old parks (OP) and New parks
(NP)) in Faisalabad were investigated in 2021. A total census of tree population in selected
urban parks were carried out and then studied for various parameters. Tree composition, species
richness, native and exotic trees distribution were compared between two kinds of parks. Result
showed that 3532 trees belonging to 56 species, 49 genera and 29 families were enumerated,
with 2230 trees in OP and 1272 trees in NP. The distribution is largely dominated by a few
common species. OP have higher proportion of native trees while, NP have higher proportion
of exotic trees. Dominance of exotic tree species in NP depicted that change in time has
significantly affected the plantation pattern of urban parks in Faisalabad. OP had higher tree
species richness (47) as compare to NP (36). Dominance of exotic species in new parks is the
major cause of low tree diversity. Presence of higher number of exotic trees disturbs the
sustainable functioning of urban ecosystems due to greater risks associated with exotic trees.
To improve urban environmental conditions greater attention requires to be paid to the
plantation pattern and species selection in urban parks. The need for the hour is to select an
appropriate mix of trees that supports biodiversity and maximizes environmental and
ecosystem services.

Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari Campus

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