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 less 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.
