Use of Tree Species in Controlling Environmental Pollution-A Review

Abstract

Plants in urban areas play an essential role to cleanse the pollution in human environment. The paper describes the choice of eco–friendly plant species and their right placement in the urban environment to overcome the pollution problems. INTRODUCTION In modern times pollution has become the biggest menace for the survival of the biological species. There are various types of pollution e.g. air, water, soil, sound and mental pollution. Earth was a beautiful landscape but man has ruthlessly exploited for his greed specially, in the last century. With rapid industrialization and random urbanization environmental pollution has become a serious problem. Over exploitation of open spaces, ever-increasing number of automobiles and demographic pressure has further aggravated the problem. There are various ways and means to mitigate the urban environmental pollution. Plan-ting of trees and shrubs for abatement of pollution and improvement of environment is an effective way and well recognized throughout the world. Earlier, the purpose of planting trees in urban areas was purely aesthetic [1]. The incessant increase of urban environmental pollution has necessitated to reconsider the whole approach of urban landscaping and its orientation in order to achieve duel effect i.e. bio-aesthetics and mitigation of pollution. Proper planning and planting scheme depending upon the magnitude and type of pollution, selection of pollution-tolerant and dust scavenging trees and shrubs should be done for bioremediation of urban environmental pollution. Pollution, the major problem in cities, is compounded by the fact that there is no exhaust for the polluted air to escape. Landscape architects can solve the pollution problems related to urban landscape by creating a micro-climate [2]. Pollution Pollution is defined as 'an undesirable change in physical, chemical and biological characteristics of air, water and land that may be harmful to living organisms, living conditions and cultural assets. The pollution control board defined pollution as unfavourable alteration of our surrounding, largely as a by-product of human activities. The pollution may be due to human activities or natural ecosystems [3]. Natural pollution contaminates the air by storms, forest fire, volcanoes and natural processes (methane from marshy lands). Nature by and large treats, recycles and makes good use of the pollutants and renders them less harmful, whereas man-made pollutants threaten the integrity of the nature.