THE IMPACTS OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS ON THE PERCEPTION OF RESIDENTS ABOUT URBAN VEGETATION: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF PLANNED VERSUS SEMI-PLANNED CITIES OF ISLAMABAD AND RAWALPINDI, PAKISTAN

The present study deciphers the impacts of urban planning and role of socio-economic determinants on the perception about urban vegetation. The residents inhabiting the planned (Islamabad) and the semi-planned (Rawalpindi) urban centres were the study population. Both urban areas, lying in close proximity, face rapid transformations in LULC due to urbanization. Despite their closeness, such variants as discrepancies in the standards of urban-planning and socio-economic characteristics of inhabitants make them apt study-sites. The inhabitants' perception was tapped regarding the importance of urban vegetation, temporal and spatial changes and their impacts. The majority concurred to its efficacy, a substantial proportion observed transformations in it over time while a reasonable number perceived these changes as negative and unwelcome. Such socio-economic determinants as location, education, gender, ownership status of residence and income of respondents were studied, deploying Statistical analyses (KW). Responses varied, with location and income weighing-in more heavily. Pairwise comparison (WRST) further vindicated the results. Urbanization is sure to tarnish the environmental sustainability of both cities. Synchronized efforts from all stake-holders are a must.