Dear Sheshadry: Wonderful idea and start... could your interim report be please put in a pdf format to make sense.... I read thru it, but it was laborious to say the least...
WELCOME to the group... I am personally interested in Urban forestery as pollution control and to bring back birds to the city... and of course other pollinators..if they are healthy, we will be healthy... What you write under the heading of: *Urban Plantations – Current Scenario in Bangalore* I completely agree, no planning for ecological impact is undertaken.... Wish you great luck in your efforts... and success in your goals.. Usha di ====== On Nov 30, 7:50 pm, Sheshadri Ramaswamy <[email protected]> wrote: > Dear Friends, > > I would like to introduce myself as a new member to this group. > I stay in Bangalore. > My group of friends are researching native forest trees around Bangalore > and studying their interdependance on Birds, Butterflies, Bees, Insects and > small Mammals. > We are in an effort to propogate these species by planting them in all > kinds of urban spaces e.g > Trees for planting under overhead electric wires. > Trees for woodlots, parks. > Trees that attract Birds, Butterflies etc. > We find that these trees are most suitable for the amount of rainfall we > receive, soil conditions, sunlight received, air moisture levels etc. > This kind of a model project can be researched and executed in any city or > town all over the world. > Am attaching a rough draft of our project with ATREE, Bangalore. > We combed all forest areas around Bangalore, studied interdepandance and > arrived at the tabulations. > > * * > > *Introduction & Objectives* > > * * > > Forests are living communities in which no single species whether floral or > faunal, can be viewed in isolation. Each entity is linked to the other, > either directly or indirectly, in a complex web. > > * * > > The relationship between birds, butterflies, honey bees and other insects > with trees and shrubs is one of very close interdependence. Natural > forests, with their multi-tiered vegetation, have always been the ideal > home for a large variety of birds, insects and other fauna. The many > different forest types in India’s varied geo-climatic zones have provided > ecological niches for forest-dwelling avifauna for feeding, roosting, > nesting and cover. Birds, butterflies, honey bees and other insects in turn > perform the multiple services of pollination, seed dispersal, biological > control and soil enrichment, all of which, are essential for the health of > an ecosystem. Perhaps, two of the important roles of forest birds are > pollination and seed (fruit) dispersal of forest tree species. Insects too > play their role in the propagation of trees and plants by pollination. An > effective forest regeneration would involve understanding the inter > dependence between flora and fauna. > > According to a recent study made by Harini Nagendra and Divya Gopal, in a > place like Bangalore, an overwhelming majority (Almost 77%) of trees within > the urban limits is dominated by exotics like Copper Pod (Peltophorum > pterocarpum), Indian Cork Tree (Millingtonia hortensis), African Tulip > (Spathodea campanulata) etc. These species do not support fauna and > avifauna as much as the native trees and leads to limited biodiversity in > an urban scenario. > > In this context, a study was made to understand the dependency of forests > around Bangalore on avifauna and insects for pollination and seed > dispersal. These forests are home to rich and diverse flora and fauna. As > these forests are not very far from Bangalore and historically the > vegetation of Bangalore was probably more or less similar to the ones in > the study area. > > Information gathered from this study can be used to select candidate trees > or shrubs that are amenable for planting in urban situations to enhance > local biodiversity. These candidate species can further be subjected for an > analysis of their suitability for planting on roadsides, under power lines, > public parks, gardens, around houses, botanical gardens, arboretums, > farmlands, forest peripheries,afforestation programs etc. This suitability > analysis will also take into consideration the urban conditions, space > available, aesthetics, canopy spread, growth pattern, etc. This exercise > will hopefully go a long way in replacing exotic trees or bushes that are > currently being planted widely in an urban situation. It is expected that > growing native trees with known faunal inter-dependence would contribute > towards enhancing biodiversity. > > Study Site: > > These forest areas have been selected for this study as geographically they > are not very far from Bangalore and historically the vegetation of > Bangalore was probably more or less similar to the ones in the study area. > > 1. Melagiri(Hosur forest division > > 2.Banneraghatta national park. > > 3.Kaveri wildlife sanctuary. > > 4.Savanadurga state forest. > > 5.Ramanagara hills. > > 6.Devarayanadurga state forest. > > 7.Bangalore university(last remaining native forest in our city) > > Ø Habitat photographs > > *Photographs of trees in flowering and fruiting* > > *List of Trees lost during heavy rains or during monsoons* > > * * > > List of Trees damaged/uprooted during heavy rains in Bangalore > > *Period: 2007 to present; Area: Rajajinagar, Bangalore* > > * * > > * * > > * * > > *MATERIALS AND METHODS* > > v Trees and shrubs survey conducted along transect routes. > > v 2Km routes were selected with 15m belt on either-side > > v All trees within the transect area identified > > v Details on phenology > > v Species were categorized based on their ecological value > > ü Faunal dependence recorded > > ü Aesthetic value > > v Suitability of these trees for Urban situation evaluated > > . > > * * > > * * > > * * > > * * > > * * > > * * > > * * > > * * > > * * > > * * > > * * > > * * > > * * > > * * > > * * > > * * > > * * > > * * > > * * > > * * > > * * > > * * > > * * > > * * > > * * > > * * > > * * > > * * > > * * > > * * > > *Results and Discussions:* > > Table 1. Trees for Highway planting – National & State > > *Species* > > *Value* > > *Visitors** > > Shorea roxburghii > > Nectar, Dust & Pollution Control > > I,B > > Butea monosperma > > Nectar, Dust & Pollution Control > > I,B,M > > Syzigium cumini > > Nectar, Fruits > > I,B,M > > Terminalia arjuna > > Nectar > > I > > Pterocarpus marsupium > > Nectar > > I > > Holoptelia integrifolia > > Fruits, Dust & Pollution control > > I,B > > Albizia lebbeck > > Dust & Pollution control > > I > > Tamarindus indica > > Nectar, Fruits > > I,B,M > > Terminalia bellirica > > Nectar > > I,M > > Givotia rottleriformis > > Dust & Pollution Control > > I,B > > Gyrocarpus americanus > > Dust & Pollution Control > > I > > Ailanthus excels > > Dust & Pollution Control > > I > > Melia dubia > > Nectar,Fruits, Dust & Pollution Control > > IBM > > * I – Insects, B – Birds, M - Mammals > > *Justification * > > • Pollution control > > • Shade giving/air cooling > > • Tall trees > > • Good canopy spread > > • Absorbtion of solar radiation / vehicular glare > > Table 2. Trees for planting on narrow roads – 20 - 30 ft > > Species > > Value > > Visitors* > > Buchanania lanzan > > Nectar,Fruits > > I,B,M > > Holarrhena antidysentrica > > Nectar > > I,B > > Premna tomentosa > > Nectar,Fruits > > I,B > > Bauhinia tomentosa > > Nectar > > I,B > > Cochlospermum religiosum > > Nectar > > I,B > > Gardenia latifolia > > Nectar,Fruits > > I,B,M > > Gardenia gummifera > > Nectar,Fruits > > I,B,M > > Lagerstroemia parviflora > > Nectar > > I,B > > Memecylon umbellatum > > Nectar,Fruits > > I,B > > Grewia spp. > > Nectar,Fruits > > I,B,M > > Morinda pubescens > > Nectar,Fruits > > I,B,M > > Tarenna asiatica > > Nectar,Fruits > > I,B,M > > Cipadessa baccifera > > Fruits > > B,M > > Breynia vitis-ideae > > Fruits > > B,M > > Cordia myxa > > Fruits > > B,M > > Erythrina suberosa > > Nectar > > I,B > > Mundulea sericea > > Nectar > > I,B > > Wrightia tinctoria > > Nectar > > I,B > > Ixora pavetta > > Nectar,Fruits > > I,B,M > > Dalbergia paniculata > > Nectar > > I,B > > Capparis sepiaria > > Nectar > > I,B > > Alangium salvifolium > > Nectar,Fruits > > I,B,M > > Carissa carandas > > Nectar,Fruits > > I,B,M > > Justification: > > • Narrow bole > > • Non buttressing > > • Low height > > • Aesthetically pleasing > > • Non spreading canopies > > Table 3. Trees for planting on medium width roads – 40 - 60 ft plus > > Species > > Value > > Visitors* > > Gmelina arborea > > Nectar,Fruits > > I,B,M > > Albizia odoratissima > > Nectar > > I,B > > Soymida febrifuga > > Butea monosperma > > Nectar > > I,B > > Vitex altissima > > Nectar,Fruits > > I,B,M > > Vitex pubescens > > Nectar,Fruits > > I,B,M > > Bridelia retusa > > Fruits > > B,M > > Diospyros melanoxylon > > Fruits > > B,M > > Canthium diccocum > > Nectar,Fruits > > I,B,M > > Phoenix sylvestris > > Nectar,Fruits > > I,B,M > > Anogeissus latifolia > > Fruits > > I > > Ficus microcarpa > > Fruits > > I,B,M > > Pongamia pinnata > > Nectar > > I,B > > Terminalia chebula > > Nectar,Fruits > > I,B,M > > Lagerstroemia microcarpa > > Nectar > > I,B > > Madhuca indica > > Nectar,Fruits > > I,B,M > > Terminalia paniculata > > Nectar,Fruits > > I,B > > Chloroxylon swietenia > > Nectar > > I,B > > Dolichandrone atrovirens > > Nectar > > I,B > > Dolichandrone falcata > > Nectar > > I,B > > Justification: > > • Moderately tall > > • Medium sized bole > > • Medium sized canopy > > Table 4. Trees for planting in Gardens and public parks > > *Species * > > *Value* > > *Visitors** > > Gmelina arborea > > Nectar,Fruits > > I,B,M > > Butea monosperma > > Nectar > > I,B,M > > Buchanania lanzan > > Nectar,Fruits > > I,B,M > > Vitex altissima > > Nectar,Fruits > > I,B,M > > Vitex pubescens > > Nectar,Fruits > > I,B,M > > Holarrhena antidysentrica > > Nectar > > I,B > > Bridelia retusa > > Fruits > > B,M > > Diospyros melanoxylon > > Fruits > > B,M > > Ixora pavetta > > Nectar,Fruits > > I,B,M > > Strychnos potatorum > > Fruits > > I,B > > Syzigium cumini > > Nectar,Fruits > > I,B,M > > Canthium diccocum > > Nectar,Fruits > > I,B,M > > Phoenix sylvestris > > Nectar,Fruits > > I,B,M > > Anogeissus latifolia > > I > > Premna tomentosa > > Nectar,Fruits > > I,B,M > > Bauhinia tomentosa > > Nectar > > I,B > > Terminalia arjuna > > Nectar > > I,B > > Ficus microcarpa > > Fruits > > I,B,M > > Cochlospermum religiosum > > Nectar > > I,B > > Gardenia latifolia > > Nectar,Fruits > > I,B,M > > Gardenia gummifera > > Nectar,Fruits > > I,B,M > > Mitragyna parviflora(very imp. For Butterflies) > > Justification: > > • Aesthetically pleasing > > • Shade giving > > • Ornamental leaves and canopies > > • Fragrant flowers > > • Flowering for about 8 months a year in a phased manner. > > • Support butterflies and bird > > Table 6. Heritage, long living and trees for gunduthopus > > What are heritage trees – Long living trees and biologically important. > > Ficus benghalensis > > Ficus mysorensis. Syn. Ficus drupaceae > > Ficus religiosa > > Ficus racemosa. Syn Ficus glomerata > > Ficus amplissima. Bilibasri > > Ficus tsjahela. Karibasri > > Madhuca longifolia > > Syzigium cumini. Naati or Naayinerle variety > > Mangifera indica. Wild mango. Kulimaavu > > Azadirachta indica > > • Revive the concept of gunduthopus > > • Ready germplasm of rare species > > • Inculcate a love for nature amongst the people > > • Provide a gathering space for local communities to celebrate > festivals,fairs and marketing agriproduce(Santhe) > > Table 7. Trees for general public > > Buchanania lanzan > > Tasty,fleshy fruits,edible seeds > > Bridelia retusa > > Tasty,fleshy fruits > > Diospyros melanoxylon > > Tasty,fleshy fruits > > Syzigium cumini > > Tasty,fleshy fruits > > Phoenix sylvestris > > Edible fruits > > Gardenia gummifera > > Tasty,fleshy fruits > > Pongamia pinnata > > Shade giving,air cooling > > Madhuca indica > > Tasty,fleshy fruits, oilseeds > > Grewia spp. > > Tasty,fleshy fruits > > Acacia leucophloea > > Bark used to distill liquor > > Albizia amara > > Leaves used as shampoo > > Hardwickia binate > > Rope and timber and charcoal > > Acacia conchinnia > > Fruits for Shampoo > > Limonia acidissima > > Edible fruits > > Holoptelia integrifolia > > Edible seeds > > Tamarindus indica > > Fruits sold commercially > > Phyllanthus emblica > > Edible fruits > > Ziziphus mauritiana > > Edible fruits > > Butea monosperma-. > > leaves for plates > > Cordia myxa > > Edible fruits > > Madhuca longifolia > > Edible fruits, oilseeds > > Catunaregam spinosa / Randia spinosa- > > Fruits Used as soap > > Ailanthus excels > > Timber value > > Melia dubia > > Timber value > > Sapindus emarginatus > > Fruits used as shampoo > > Table 8. Bee flora for Gardens and woodlots > > Species > > Flower Size > > Nectar Availability > > Gmelina arborea > > M > > M > > Shorea roxburghii > > S > > M > > Butea monosperma > > M > > M > > Buchanania lanzan > > S > > M > > Holarrhena antidysentrica > > S > > M > > Ixora pavetta > > S > > M > > Cochlospermum religiosum > > LA > > LO > > Gardenia latifolia > > LA > > LO > > Gardenia gummifera > > M > > LO > > Pterocarpus marsupium > > S > > M > > Lagerstroemia parviflora > > S > > LO > > Lagerstroemia microcarpa > > S > > LO > > Madhuca indica > > S > > LO > > Grewia spp. > > M > > H > > Chloroxylon swietenia > > S > > M > > Dolichandrone atrovirens > > S > > H > > Dolichandrone falcata > > M > > M > > * LO – Low, M – Medium, S – Small, H - High > > Table 9. Trees with hollows for cavity nesting birds > > *Species* > > *Age of trees (years)* > > *Cavity nesters recorded* > > Ficus benghalensis > > >30 > > Spotted owlet, Mynas, Parakeet, Roller > > Ficus mysorensis > > >40 > > Spotted owlet, Mynas, Parakeet, Roller > > Ficus religiosa > > >30 > > Spotted owlet, Mynas, Parakeet, > > Syzigium cumini > > >40 > > Mynas, Parakeet, > > Ficus racemosa > > >25 > > Mynas, Parakeet, > > Bombax ceiba > > >20 > > Spotted owlet, Mynas, Parakeet, > > Pterocarpus marsupium > > >35 > > Spotted owlet, Mynas, Parakeet, > > Madhuca longifolia > > >40 > > Spotted owlet, Mynas, Parakeet, > > Mangifera indica > > >40 > > Spotted owlet, Mynas, Parakeet, > > Albizia lebbeck > > >25 > > Mynas, Parakeet > > Albizia odoratissima > > >25 > > Mynas, Parakeet > > Table 10. Trees that sustain nectar feeders > > *Species* > > *Flower type* > > *Nectar quantity* > > Gmelina arborea > > M > > M > > Albizia odoratissima > > S > > LO > > Butea monosperma > > M > > M > > Vitex altissima > > S > > LO > > Vitex pubescens > > S > > LO > > Holarrhena antidysentrica > > S > > M > > Ixora pavetta > > S > > M > > Syzigium cumini > > S > > M > > Pongamia pinnata > > S > > M > > Pterocarpus marsupium > > S > > M > > Buchanania lanzan > > S > > LO > > Careya arborea > > M > > M > > Lagerstroemia parviflora > > S > > LO > > Lagerstroemia microcarpa > > S > > LO > > Madhuca indica > > M > > H > > Memecylon umbellatum > > S > > LO > > Grewia spp. > > S > > M > > Chloroxylon swietenia > > S > > M > > Dolichandrone atrovirens > > M > > H > > Dolichandrone falcate > > M > > H > > Acacia leucophloea > > S > > LO > > Albizia amara > > S > > LO > > Morinda pubescens > > S > > LO > > Cassia fistula > > S > > LO > > Table 11. > > Trees for Lake shore planting > > *Species* > > *Value* > > *Purpose* > > Strychnos potatorum > > Purifies water > > Along margins > > Syzigium cumini > > Fruits for birds > > Island planting > > Terminalia arjuna > > Foreshore planting > > Pongamia pinnata > > Flowers for insects > > Island planting for heronries > > Dendrocalamus strictus > > Hide for birds > > Island planting for heronries > > Mitragyna parviflora > > Butterfly attracting flowers > > Island planting for heronries > > Ficus racemosa > > Fruits for birds > > Along margins > > Breynia vitis-ideae > > Fruits for birds > > Along margins > > Acacia planifrons > > Flat-topped canopy > > Island planting for heronries > > Barringtonia acutangula > > Withstands submergence > > Foreshore planting > > Table 12. Trees that have never been planted in cities > > Albizia odoratissima > > Pterocarpus marsupium > > Tarenna asiatica > > Shorea roxburghii > > Terminalia chebula > > Mitragyna parviflora > > Butea monosperma > > Buchanania lanzan > > Cassine glauca > > Buchanania lanzan > > Careya arborea > > Diospyros melanoxylon > > Vitex altissima > > Lagerstroemia parviflora > > Ziziphus mauritiana > > Vitex pubescens > > Lagerstroemia microcarpa > > Cipadessa baccifera > > Holarrhena antidysentrica > > Madhuca indica > > Terminalia bellirica > > Bridelia retusa > > Memecylon umbellatum > > Givotia rottleriformis > > Diospyros melanoxylon > > Grewia spp. > > Breynia vitis-ideae > > Ixora pavetta > > Terminalia paniculata > > Cordia myxa > > Strychnos potatorum > > Chloroxylon swietenia > > Erythrina suberosa > > Canthium diccocum > > Dolichandrone atrovirens > > Mundulea sericea > > Maytenus senegalensis > > Acacia leucophloea > > Wrightia tinctoria > > Anogeissus latifolia > > Albizia amara > > Catunaregam spinosa / Randia spinosa. > > Premna tomentosa > > Sterculia urens > > Ixora pavetta > > Bauhinia tomentosa > > Morinda pubescens > > Dalbergia paniculata > > Cochlospermum religiosum > > Hardwickia binata > > Gyrocarpus americanus > > Gardenia latifolia > > Acacia conchinnia > > Acacia planifrons > > Gardenia gummifera > > Vitex altissima > > Capparis sepiaria > > Alangium salvifolium > > *Urban Plantations – Current Scenario in Bangalore* > > Of late it has been observed that the focus is on planting only a few > species in and around Bangalore, that too, most of these species are > exotics like Tabebuia rosea, Mahogany,Markhamia etc Most of them are > ornamental or with timber value. > > These species hardly have any value in terms of supporting bio diversity > and are not ideally suited for our Latitude,Altitude, > Soil,Temperature,Rainfall,Moisture levels,Sunlight etc > > The long term effects of planting such trees also needs to be studied. > > These trees are also being planted in all available spaces giving an > opportunity for these species to dominate the landscape, at the cost of > endemic trees and other flora. > > Species selection for raising saplings in forest nurseries are not planned > and all seeds are generally collected from a single tree rendering a poor > genetic makeup.Rules for scientific seeds collection are not followed, > which may render these trees vulnerable to epidemic diseases. > > *References * > > *Forest Trees of South India – Neginhal S.G* > > *Golden Trees,Greenspaces and Urban Forestry – Neginhal.S.G* > > *Research papers – Dr S.Subramanya.* > > * * > > *Acknowledgements* > > *ATREE,Bangalore.* > > *Karnataka Forest Department.* > > *Tamilnadu Forest Department.* > > *Dr. S. Subramanya, GKVK* > > *Sheshadri Ramaswamy.* > > Warm Regards.
