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INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES Volume 3, No 1, 2012

© Copyright by the authors - Licensee IPA- Under Creative Commons license 3.0

Review article ISSN 0976 – 4402

Received on June 2012 Published on July 2012 481

Impact of urbanization on avenue trees and its role in carbon

sequestration: a case study in Kolhapur city

Tejashri B. Desai1, Mayur Nandikar

2

1- Gate No. 87/1, Fleetguard Filters Private Limited, Nandur, Tehsil: Dound, Dist. Pune 412

202 (India)

2- Department of Botany, Shivaji University, Kolhapur 416 004. (India)

[email protected]

doi:10.6088/ijes.2012030131046

ABSTRACT

Avenue trees will be most effective in providing “true” shade and a commanding visual

contrast between dense landscaping and open space when planted in groups. Moreover,

avenues are part of urban forestry and in terms of atmospheric carbon reduction; avenues

proffer the advantage of shortest carbon storage to sustain ecological stability of teeming and

polluted environment. Developing cities or small towns in India are running behind

modernization and developmental projects viz. road widening and it creates impact on avenue

trees. During the current expansion of roads in Kolhapur city little attention has been paid to

evaluate the effect of tree cuttings and role of avenue in carbon cycle. Moreover the paper

describes impact of developmental projects and role of avenues in carbon estimation.

Key words: Avenue trees, Urbanization, Carbon sequestration, Kolhapur.

1. Introduction

Next to financial growth, the urban environment of India has become prevailed by various

developmental activities. The majority of the environmental loss in towns is due various

constructions, widening of roads, industrialization. Cause of this, urban environment has been

interrupted and most of the vegetation has been destroyed. Growing trees in urban areas can

be potential contributor in reducing concentration of CO2 in atmosphere by its accumulation

in the form of biomass (Chavan et al., 2010). Avenue trees in urban areas play a vital role to

maintain the ecological balance of crowded and polluted environment. Road side trees,

because of their proximity to generation of vehicle emissions, are important in reducing

pollution (Kiran et al., 2011).

Kolhapur is famous as princely state and as a historical city situated at part of south western

Maharashtra (Figure 1). City placed between 16070’00’’N, 74

023’33’’ E and speeded over

area of 66.82 sq. km. Street plantation on major roads was carried out in city in the year 1975

to 1985. Avenue plantations were done number of roads like the way to Panhala fort,

Bhudargad, Radhanagari, Gaganbavada. Mainly banyan canopy along the roadside is best

seen on road like Panhala, Katyayani. Trees have raised natural green arch which is very

pleasant to see. Kolhapur is one of the economic centers in a state after metropolitans like

Mumbai and Pune. Likewise any developing town, it also engages in many developmental

activities like new housings townships, industries, commercial complexes, etc. As a result,

city facing the various evils like rush of automobiles, pollution, paucity of residential land.

To overcome the problem of heavy traffic and easy transportation within the city, Kolhapur

Municipal Corporation (KMC) was initiated programme of road widening. On the very

Impact of urbanization on avenue trees and its role in carbon sequestration: a case study in Kolhapur city

Tejashri B. Desai, Mayur Nandikar

International Journal of Environmental Sciences Volume 3 No.1, 2012 482

beginning of the project major green cover of avenue were destroyed to acquire the land for

widening of roads. These trees contributing important ecological function of sequestering

carbon and reducing automobile pollution in the city and because of such a wide destruction

ultimately stress leads into reduction of carbon sequestration.

Green areas or pockets act as Hot Spot in urban biodiversity (Kulkarni et al. 2001), moreover

city exist few green pouches, like University campus, Rajashree Chhatrapati Shahu Mill, T. A.

Bataliyan Area, Town Hall Garden, Hutatma Park, Mahaveer Garden but these mentioned

sites will not maintain burden of excessive developments within the city. KMC and Road

Development Company have taken the initiative to make the city green by planting avenues

along newly developed road sites. Apart from this Corporation should endeavor to develop

other reserved plots with planting native tree species.

To assess the loss of avenue trees during last few years, to determine present need of carbon

consumption the present study was undertaken. Major roads within the city, its fringe were

screened (Figure 1 and 2; Table 1) to assess present status of green cover in the Kolhapur city.

Table 1: Road details of the study area

Sr.No Name of Road

Length

of

Road

(km)

Number

of Trees

on each

Roadside

(2009)

Number

of Trees

on each

Roadside

(2011)

Total CO2

sequestered

(t/km) in

June 2011

1 Tarabai Road (Mahalaxmi Mandir

to Rankala) 0.80 26 33

1.08

2 Mahadwar Road (Panyacha

Khajina to Bhudawar Peth) 1.98 75 78

1.19

3 Vashi naka to Gangavesh 0.92 74 74 0.68

4 Rankala tower to Gangavesh to

Laxmipuri 1.79 42 40

0.45

5 Titan showroom to Hockey

ground 2.85 140 162

8.35

6 Bhausingji Road (Bhavani

mandap to Kasaba Bavda) 4.87 349 40

0.59

7 Bindu Chowk to Shivaji

University, Kolhapur 4.41 259 78

2.04

8 Sadar Bazaar to Aligant Road 1.39 82 126 0.57

9 Market yard to Toraskar Chowk 5.45 504 201 6.88

10 Tembalai to Bagal Chowk 2.38 97 97 4.89

11 Khanvilkar Bangalow to Line

Bazaar 3.07 262 390

15.00

12 Gavat madai to Kolhapur

Mahanagar Palika 0.80 56 61

1.39

13 DSP office to Shivaji University,

Kolhapur 5.75 528 22

1.83




14 Railway Gate to Maruti Mandir

(Rajarampuri Main road ) 1.08 76 79

1.83

15 Maulicha Putala to Gokhale

College 1.43 89 143

1.79

16 Gokul Hotel to Jawahar Nagar 2.35 119 125 2.61

17 Kiran Bungalow to Samadhan

hotel 0.71 73 65

1.56

18 Parikh Pool to Bagal Chowk 0.30 00* 34 1.64

18 Total 42.33 2851 1848 54.36

* Earlier not evaluated

Figure 1: Image showing road map within Kolhapur city




Figure 2: Comparative Google Earth satellite images of screened roads within Kolhapur city,

yellow circles highlights the loss of avenue during process of urbanization (A, C, E and G – a

satellite images of year 2007; B, D, F, H – a satellite images of year 2010) – A and B – piece

of road in front of Shivaji University. B and C – section of Phulewadi road. E and F – section

of Kalamba road. G and H – DSP office chowk road.

2. Materials and Method

In the present study, the aspect of the measurement of the quantity of carbon has been carried

out and this was based on the amount of standing woody biomass of trees on the road sides of

selected roads from Kolhapur city. The database was compiled from a census conducted by

Municipal Corporation in the early 2009 (prepared for road widening project) as well as our

extensive field visits during year 2010- 2011. Remaining figures related with population,

registration of motor cars are copied from Environmental status report 2008-2009 by

Kolhapur Municipal Corporation. Trees were scrutinized individually with their respective

measurements of GBH (cm) and basal area (m2). Based on these values standing woody

biomass (T/ha) and carbon sequestration rate of trees (Kiran et al., 2011) were calculated.

These values were converted into ton/km as per unit conversion and then values were find out




for CO2 from C and then the comparison were done of total carbon emitted and sequestrated

from all the mentioned roads.

Following equations were used,

Basal Area (m2) = (GBH/2π)

2 x π

Standing Woody Biomass (t/ha) = –1.689 + 8.32 x B.A,

Where, SE of coefficient = 1.689, R2 = 0.5, B.A. = Basal area in m2/ha.

Carbon Sequestration = 0.46 x Standing Woody Biomass

3. Results and discussion

Carbon emissions are much higher in urban, consumerist societies than rural, and biomass

dependent landscapes (Parikh et al., 1994). In recent years the increase in carbon dioxide

level in urban cities is considered not only due to rapidly increasing population but also due

to the vehicular traffic apart from Industrial pollution (Wallace et al., 2009). The growth of

vehicles in Kolhapur city has assumed an extraordinary proportion. The number of two

wheelers has increased from 1, 57,090 numbers in the year 2006 to 1, 81,600 in the year 2007.

There is also a significant increase in the registration of motor cars, suggesting problems of

traffic congestion, parking and pollution. Total number of vehicles registered in the year 2008

is 2, 37,492 which is a very high number. In addition to the registered vehicles number of

vehicles belong to floating population adds to the problem.

In the present study 18 major roads of 42.33 km were screened to calculated total carbon

capture and surprisingly 73 different species were recorded along the roadsides. Major

avenues are covered with trees like Cassia siamea Lam., Pongamia pinnata (L.) Merr.,

Samanea saman (Jacq.) Merr., Terminalia catappa L. followed by Azadirachta indica A.

Juss., Delonix regia (Bojer ex Hook.) Raf., Ficus benghalensis L., Ficus racemosa L., Ficus

religiosa L., Millingtonia hortensis L. f., Grevillea robusta A. Cunn. ex R. Br., Polyalthia

longifolia (Sonn.) Thwaites. The amount of Carbon sequestrated by these road side trees has

amounted 54.36 tons (Table 1) of carbon dioxide per year. Within Kolhapur, the most

crowded areas like Dabholkar corner, Mahadwar Road, Venus Corner, Uma talkies signal

show excess carbon emissions because of high population density and less tree cover along

the road side. Since there is lack of space for conducting tree plantations or public garden, in

future years, this central part of the city will continue to be the carbon emission source. On

the contrary, other parts of the city such as Railway gate to Maruti Madir area (Rajarampuri

Main Lane), Kiran Bungalow to Samadhan Hotel, Bagal chowk are least carbon loaded areas

with better avenue canopy. The roads like Bahusingji Road, Market yard to Toraskar Chowk

road towards Shivaji University from DSP Chowk and Bindu Chowk are badly suffered by

road widening project, nearly 60% of avenue canopy were destroyed during last 2 years

(Table 1). Massive tree plantations drives need to be taken up in these areas, along avenues

and public places for raising carbon sequestration potential.

4. Conclusion

The study provides present status of avenue and it total carbon sequestration within city. Air

pollution in urban centers is increasing, with burgeoning population and increased traffic and

industry. Significant increases in level of automobiles are adding more carbon in urban

environment, it can exceed in forthcoming years. Urban development is must according to

augmentation, necessitate of developing city. Under the head urbanization loss of avenues or




any green pouches or any natural sources generates most awful situation in future. In

Kolhapur or any developing city there is need to creates more green pouches, plantation

along the roadside along with the urbanization and this would be only key to tackle exceed

pollution.

5. References

1. Chavan, B. L., and Rasal, G. B, (2010), Sequestered standing carbon stock in selective

tree species grown in University campus Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India.

International Journal of Engineering Science and Technology. 2(7), pp 3003-3007.

2. Kiran, S. G., and Shah Kinnary, (2011), Carbon sequestration by urban trees on

roadsides of Vadodara city. International Journal of Engineering Science and

Technology. 3(4), pp3666-3070.

3. Kulkarni, M., Dighe S., Sawant, A., Oswal, P., Sahasrabuddhe, K., and Patwardhan,

A., (2001), Institutions: biodiversity hotspots in urban areas, Tropical Ecosystems,

Structure, diversity and human welfare, pp 693-695.

4. Parikh, J., Panda, M., and Murthy N. S., (1994), Consumption pattern differences and

Environmental Implications: A case study of India, IGIDR.

5. Wallace Julie, Corr Denis, Deluca Patrick, Kanaroglou Pavlos and Brian, McCarry.,

(2009), Mobile monitoring of air pollution in cities: the case of Hamilton, Ontario,

Canada. Journal of Environmental Monitoring. 11, pp 998–1003. DOI:

10.1039/b818477a

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