33
Surat is the second largest city in Gujarat in term
of human population and the area. The human
population density is very high within city. On
other hand, the tree cover is poor. Surat has
lowest tree density amongst the eight municipal
corporations. Also, number of trees per hundred
persons is also lowest. The industrial area of
Surat near Hazira support good plantation. The
basic facts about Surat city are as follows.
Unlike other
Mahanagar Palikas
, tree
composition in Surat is different. Number of
Neem trees is very low due to high rains. No
specific species of tree has high population in
Surat.
Human population 44.62 lakh
Area of city
39,550 ha
Number of trees
333,970
(above 10 cm GBH)
Tabel-17. The main trees in Surat
Mahanagar Palika
No
Species
No of
trees
No
Species
No of
trees
1 Asopalav-
Polyalthia
longofolia
23,042 7 Nilgiri-
Eucalyptus
sp
10,031
2 Saptparni-
Alstonia scholaris
11,973 8 Chikoo-
Acrus sapota
9,423
3 Gulmohar-
Delonix regia
11,406 9 Badam-
Terminalia catappa
9,163
4 Bakam Limdo-
Melia
azedarach
11,110 10 Kasid-
Casia siamea
8,661
5 Gandobaval-
Prosopis
chilensis
10,524 11 Others
218,470
6 Gorasamli-
Pithecellobium
dulce
10,187
Total
333,990
Distribution of trees in different girth classes
Girth in cm
Number of trees
Girth in cm
Number of trees
10-30 cm
97,728
121-150 cm
3,846
31-60 cm
15,0616
151-200 cm
1,610
61-90 cm
66,326
201-250 cm
387
91-120 cm
13,452
250 and above
25
Tree density
8.4 tees/ha
Tree cover
1,184 ha (3.0% of
geographical area)
Trees per 100 person 7.5 trees/100 persons
A total of 83 tree species have been listed during
counting of trees and dominant species among
them has been given in Table-17.
Surat has good rainfall but city and its peripheral
villages have poor tree cover due to the nature
of agricultural crops practiced. The tree cover
can be improved to some extent in the Surat
Municipal Corporation (SMC) area but may not
be possible to increase to a desired level due to
non- availability of the space. Thus, the gap may
be filled up by taking up massive tree plantation
and horticulture programmes in the area of Surat
Urban Development Authority. SMC and SUDA
may join hand to increase the tree population
13.3. Trees in Surat City
