Page 264 - C:\Users\am_se\OneDrive - Higher Education Commission\Desktop\FlipBook\

International Conference on

Recent Trends in Environmental Sustainability

ESCON22/SAgri/41

Low street tree diversity: a possible threat to the sustainable urban ecosystem
functioning
Muhammad Umair Shafique, Adnan Younis, Ahsan Akram, Muhammad Asad Shabbir*,
M.Asif, Rao M. Aftab Jamil, Muzzamil Ijaz, Ahmad Faiz Akbar, Ali Ahmad
Institute of Horticultural Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad.

Correspondence: asadshabbir199@gmail.com
Abstract

Assessment of street tree diversity is considered integral to sustainable street tree management
and preservation of the ecosystem services and social benefits that street trees provide. In this
study, 6 residential areas divided into two categories: Old Residential Areas (ORAs) and New
Residential Areas (NRAs) in Faisalabad were investigated in 2021. A total census of street tree
population in selected residential areas were carried out and then studied for various
parameters. Tree composition, species richness, native and exotic trees distribution were
compared between two kinds of residential areas. Results showed that the distribution is largely
dominated by a few common tree species. ORAs have higher tree diversity (37) while, NRAs
have lower tree diversity (22). Dominance of few tree species in both ORAs and NRAs depicted
that change in time has significantly affected the plantation and diversity pattern of residential
areas of Faisalabad. Dominance of few tree species in residential areas is the major cause of
low tree diversity. Greater attentions of Municipality of Faisalabad and Urban policy makers
are required in order to develop and manage street tree plantation on sustainable level.

Keywords: Diversity indices, Sustainable, Urban plantation, Native trees, Resilience

Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari Campus

231