Ecological disturbances due to high cutback in the green infrastructure of Karachi: Analyses of public perception about associated health problems |
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| Authors: | Salman Qureshi Syed Jamil Hasan Kazmi Jürgen H Breuste |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Geography and Geology, University of Salzburg, Hellbrunnerstrasse 34, Salzburg 5020, Austria;2. Department of Geography, University of Karachi, University Road, Karachi 75270, Pakistan;1. School of Engineering & Built Environment, Glasgow Caledonian University, UK;2. Department of Material Sciences, University of Salento, Italy;1. Colgate University, Hamilton, NY, USA;2. State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY, USA;1. School of Population Medicine and Public Health, Peking Union Medical College, The Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China;2. School of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia;3. Population Wellbeing and Environment Research Lab (PowerLab), School of Health and Society, Faculty of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia;4. Menzies Centre for Health Policy, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia;5. National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China;6. Division of Non-Communicable Disease and Aging Health Management, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China;7. Department of Chronic Non-communication Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen Center for Chronic Disease Control, Shenzhen, China;8. Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong, China;1. CIBIO-InBIO, Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, University of Porto, Department of Geosciences, Environment and Spatial Planning, School of Sciences of the University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, N°687, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal;2. Católica Porto Business School and CEGE, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Rua Diogo Botelho 1327, 4169-005, Porto, Portugal;1. Monash Sustainable Development Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Australia;2. School of Social Sciences, Faculty of Arts, Monash University, Clayton, Australia;1. Institute for Geodesy and Geoinformation, University of Bonn, Nussallee 1, 53115 Bonn, Germany;2. University of Bayreuth, Institute of Sport Science (Sports Ecology), Universitaetsstrasse 30, Bayreuth 95440, Germany;3. Department of Geography (Landscape Ecology), Humboldt University of Berlin, Unter den Linden 6, 10099 Berlin, Germany;4. School of Architecture, Birmingham City University, 5 Cardigan Street, Birmingham B4 7BD, UK;5. Department Ecosystem Services, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ Leipzig, Germany;6. Research Group Ecosystem Services, German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Germany |
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| Abstract: | This paper evaluates the changes to the green infrastructure of the megacity of Karachi, Pakistan, occurring during a period of rapid development, involving extensive loss of trees and green spaces since 2000, occurring as a consequence of road widening and improvements to the city's transport infrastructure, aggravated by a series of cyclones, involving further tree loss and which has led to numerous ecological problems in the city, assessing how the effect of the reduction of Karachi's green infrastructure has impacted both the reality and the perception of human health conditions. It uses medium-resolution satellite images classified for land use and land cover (LULC) data extraction and detailed field surveys to map the extent of change; structured questionnaires are used to identify the perception of selected, targeted groups regarding the state of Karachi's urban green infrastructure and perceived human health conditions. Findings indicate that the public perception of green space functionality or presence does not equate with the remote sensing and field mapping results, which show a dramatic loss. The need to develop a comprehensive urban greening strategy, which considers the needs and priorities of the population, is identified. The impact of such a strategy in terms of increased frequency of visits to green sites and associated increase in the physical activity of the people to improve overall physical health is discussed in relation to the general development of Karachi. |
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