Pollution Tolerance of Selected Tree Species in Urban Landscapes of Hyderabad, Telangana

Industrialization and urbanization are important for economic and socio-ecological development of a region and a nation, but poor planning infiltrates many problems degrading the livability of urban and semi-urban landscapes. One such problem is air pollution which also confounds with other problems such as water and soil pollution and correlated with numerous health problems. Vehicle emission and poor management of industrial effluents are most highlighted causes of air pollution and Increasing atmospheric warming. For effective management of air pollutants and green-house gases (GHG) especially in the urban landscape green infrastructure and green belt development have been identified as key solution. The key to improve the capacity of these green structures for curbing the pollutants and GHGs lies in the performance of plant species. One of the ways to select the best performing plants and trees for such green structures is their tolerance to air pollution often measured with the help of Air Pollution Tolerance index (APTI) and Anticipated Performance Index (API). The present study Involved estimation of APTI and API for selected tree species in three urban landscapes of Hyderabad (Telangana) under different pollution levels. The study identifies and recommends the species more suitable for green infrastructures in and around Hyderabad.