URBAN FORESTRY: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN

KARACHI

URBAN FORESTRY: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN

KARACHI

URBAN FORESTRY

• Includes

• Street Trees

• Residential Trees

• Park Trees

• Greenbelt

• Provides habitat for a diversity of urban wildlife

CURRENT SCENARIO

• 6 % forest cover• “Forestation, Aesthetic Plantation and Landscaping for Karachi”

• Comprehensive Plan• Cost: Rs. 8.3 billion• Not implemented• Included native tree species• badaam • Lignum vitae• bargad (banyan tree)• peepal • gulmohar • neem

• Monoculture of tree plantation: Conocarpus

GREEN COVER

1986 2003

Source: (Qureshi, 2007)

• COST: RS 5.5 MILLION• CAUSE FOR POLLEN ALLERGY AND ASTHMA

• WATER-SUCKER

CONCARPUS: THE SELFISH TREE

PROBLEM WITH MONOCULTURE

• 10 % rule

• Hinders bird population

• Disease threat

• Dutch elm disease

WHY INVEST IN URBAN FORESTRY

• Economic Benefits

• Social Benefits

• Environmental Benefits

• Health Benefits

• Psychological Benefits

SOCIAL AND AESTHETIC BENEFITS

• source of outdoor recreation.

• facilitates social interaction 

• reduce ethnic and social polarization

• Reduces crime

ECONOMIC BENEFITS

• Increases property value

• Energy Conservation

• Improves Business

• Urban Agroforestry

• Reduced Public Spending on Town Infrastructure

HEALTH BENEFITS

• Reduces Stress

• Encourages non-sedentary liefstyle

• Improves Air Quality

• Heat Island Mitigation

CHALLENGES

• Political Will

• Urban Forest Education

• Need for legislation to protect trees

THANK YOU!