PJB-2019-763
IMPACTS OF URBANIZATION ON SCRUB FOREST OF RAWALPINDI CITY
Khadim Hussain
Abstract
Population moves toward cities causes pressure on forest land, Engagement with forest is growing and trying to interpret in forest area that cause encroachment, deteriorate the forest, regeneration success chances. The present study has been designed to study the impacts of urbanization on scrub forest of Rawalpindi city. The objectives of this research study were to asses the change detection of forest cover from the last 20 years and social and environmental impacts of urbanization on forest. A supervised classification was performed on three multi-temporal satellite imageries and a total of eight major land use and land cover (LULC) classes were identified and mapped. The population of the study area consisted of 3 regions Rawalpindi subdivision, Taxila range and Gujar khan range. A comprehensive questionnaire was prepared for data collection to get relevant information through interaction with Forest Department officials (DFOs, RFOs, FGs & Bos). In this way a total of 50 respondents were interviewed. Data on different parameters like deforestation, land use changes effect on forest, species effected due to land use change, urbanization activities, conservation measures and strategy to cope with urbanization were collected and analyzed statistically by simple statistics techniques. The change occurred in forest cover from the last 20 years was 157 sq_km decreased while the buildup area increased 56 sq_km in the last 20 years. This shows the urbanization has direct impact on scrub forest of Rawalpindi City. According to Respondents 98% of deterioration of forest was caused due urbanization. Buildings expansion and social pressure on forest caused severe Land use changes in scrub forest in all Rawalpindi south forest division. Kau and Phulai was highly affected due to land use changes. The main agents of urbanization were hosing societies included Bahria Town, Airport housing societies, CDA, DHA, Doctor’s colony and National police foundation. Conservation measures for the forest were controlling harvest of forest products, protecting some areas in the forest, placing guards to control illegal use of the forest and limiting farmland were less implemented. Urbanization was main agent destroyed the ecology of forest in all three forests region. It affected the productivity of forest, soil conservation, wildlife habitat, NTFPs products, water supply, regeneration, air quality, precipitation, erosion and pollution in the forest. To cope with urbanization, we need to apply trees plantations on non-forested area, reforestation on forest land, enforced stop deforestation, incentive-based-protection and stop illegal buildings/commercial activities.
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