1. URBAN FLORA OF PAKISTANURBAN FLORA OF PAKISTAN
Presented by:
SAAD FAROOQI
BS 6th
Semester
Department of Environmental and Conservation
Sciences
University of Swat
(Session 2012-16) 1
2. Urban Flora
Urban Flora is the plants life occurring in a
particular area or time,( i.e. Plants In city or town)
generally the naturally occurring or indigenous—native
plant life.
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3. Urban Flora of Pakistan
• Pakistan's native flora reflects its varied climatic zones, which
range from arid and semi-arid to temperate and tropical.
• About 6,000 plants species estimated in Pakistan, it was
estimated that there is 465 such species endemic in urban
areas of Pakistan, Around 700 plant species are endangered.
• In Pakistan, Urban flora provide multiple services and
environmental benefits to urban environment.
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4. Urban flora exists in different habitats of
Pakistan:• Roadside verges:
Have the largest area and population of trees in roadside
verges in Pakistan.
Grass or plants species and sometimes also trees located
between the roadway.
Overwhelmingly dominated by native broadleaved trees
occupying 70% of its species.
(Islamabad Roadside verges) 4
5. Cont.
• Public parks:
The urban public parks in Pakistan are varied significantly in the
terms of area, age, and species-count and management pattern.
These parks include many exotic or introduced species.
Some famous Pakistan public parks are Rose and jasmine garden
Islamabad, Aladdin park Karachi, Jungle world Rawalpindi,
National bank park Lahore, Flora park Lahore, and Sozo water park
Lahore.
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6. Cont.
• Residential streets:
Street trees are important part of urban greenery in
Pakistan.
The common trees in streets of Pakistan are Morus alba,
Eugenia jambolana, Punica granatum.
• Graveyards:
graveyards mainly include shade trees.
Graveyards are relatively protected habitats, offer an
opportunity to study old and undisturbed vegetation in
urban areas.
• Institutions: The institutions contributed significantly to
urban forest diversity in Pakistan. 6
7. Cont.• The photograph shown below is that of huge tree standing
majestically in Abbottabd, planted somewhere around
1850.
• Poaceae is one of the largest families of flowering plants.
It consist of 492 species In Pakistan. And mainly found in
streets and roadside verges.
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8. Vegetation communities, green belts and parks in
Major cities:
• Islamabad:
Well-developed flora rich in abundance and variety.
Due to high-quality city planning, the native flora is not
much affected by the population.
Greenway concept in Islamabad evolved from 1960’s
strategies for beautifying roads to improve the landscape
quality.
Total 793 species reported
Having large green spaces and park areas, and high urban
settlements.
That’s why Islamabad capital declared as world’s 2nd
most
beautiful capital after London.
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9. Cont.
• Lahore:
Diverse range of natural and cultivated flora.
Much of the Indian flora was introduced during the reign
of Akbar, the third Mughal emperor.
Most of green belts of Lahore are decorated by extensive
flora.
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10. Cont.
• Karachi:
Karachi can be divided into four sections in terms of floral regimes
describes as under:
• Eastern boundaries: Malir river and its adjoining sites, having
diversity bushes,shrubs,trees & agriculture products.
• Southern boundaries: Having diversity vegetations, shrubs and
wild kekar trees.
• Northern boundaries: Surrounded by High Seas of Indian ocean,
large variety of mangrove vegetation.
• Western boundaries: nearby coastal areas, and also have natural
mangrove vegetation.
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11. Urban flora declining in Pakistan:
Unplanned urbanization has resulted in the destruction of natural
ecosystems in Pakistan.
I.e. Habitats such as parks, lawn, gardens.
Increase in population and demand of land for infrastructure
resulted in destruction of vegetation and planting sites.
Due to illegal cutting of trees.
In Pakistan, unregulated urban development and large scale
commercialization damaging urban tree-scape of cities causing
serious environmental issues.
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12. Management of Flora in Urban Areas:
• Urban Forestry:
Careful care and management of urban forests. i.e tree populations in
urban settings, support appropriate trees and flora preservation.
Urban foresters practiced by municipal and commercial arborists,
environmental policy makers, utility foresters, researchers, and
community activists.
Pakistan need urban forestry for the management of urban floras and
more plantations to improve the environment.
Their survival and development depends upon the public awareness and
acceptance of their benefits.
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