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Vegetation in Bangalore’s Slums: Composition, Species Distribution, Density, Diversity, and History

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Abstract

There is widespread acknowledgement of the need for biodiversity and greening to be part of urban sustainability efforts. Yet we know little about greenery in the context of urban poverty, particularly in slums, which constitute a significant challenge for inclusive development in many rapidly growing cities. We assessed the composition, density, diversity, and species distribution of vegetation in 44 slums of Bangalore, India, comparing these to published studies on vegetation diversity in other land-use categories. Most trees were native to the region, as compared to other land-use categories such as parks and streets which are dominated by introduced species. Of the most frequently encountered tree species, Moringa oleifera and Cocos nucifera are important for food, while Ficus religiosa plays a critical cultural and religious role. Tree density and diversity were much lower in slums compared to richer residential neighborhoods. There are also differences in species preferences, with most plant (herb, shrub and vines) species in slums having economic, food, medicinal, or cultural use, while the species planted in richer residential areas are largely ornamental. Historic development has had an impact on species distribution, with older slums having larger sized tree species, while recent slums were dominated by smaller sized tree species with greater economic and food use. Extensive focus on planting trees and plant species with utility value is required in these congested neighborhoods, to provide livelihood support.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Raja for assistance with data collection and Somajita Paul for GIS assistance. We also thank Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung, the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, and SIDA, Sweden, for their financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ecology, Ecosystem Science/Plant Ecology, Technische Universität Berlin, Rothenburgstr. 12, 12165, Berlin, Germany

    Divya Gopal

  2. Institute of Botany and Landscape Ecology, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Universität Greifswald, Grimmer Str. 88, 17487, Greifswald, Germany

    Divya Gopal & Michael Manthey

  3. School of Development, Azim Premji University, PES Institute of Technology Campus, Pixel Park, B Block, Electronics City, Hosur Road, Bangalore, 560100, India

    Harini Nagendra

  4. Center for the Study of Institutions, Population, and Environmental Change (CIPEC), Indiana University, 408 N. Indiana Ave., Bloomington, IN, 47408, USA

    Harini Nagendra

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  1. Divya Gopal
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Correspondence to Divya Gopal.

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Gopal, D., Nagendra, H. & Manthey, M. Vegetation in Bangalore’s Slums: Composition, Species Distribution, Density, Diversity, and History. Environmental Management 55, 1390–1401 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-015-0467-3

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