Towards a Sustainable Landscape for Lahore by Hamid Ullah Khan A Thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies of The University of Manitoba in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Landscape Architecture Faculty of Architecture University of Manitoba Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Copyright © 2009 by Hamid Ullah Khan Library and Archives Bibliotheque et 1*1 Canada Archives Canada Published Heritage Direction du Branch Patrimoine de I'edition 395 Wellington Street 395, rue Wellington OttawaONK1A0N4 Ottawa ON K1A 0N4 Canada Canada Your file Votre r&ference ISBN: 978-0-494-69695-8 Our file Notre reference ISBN: 978-0-494-69695-8 NOTICE: AVIS: The author has granted a non­ L'auteur a accorde une licence non exclusive exclusive license allowing Library and permettant a la Bibliotheque et Archives Archives Canada to reproduce, Canada de reproduire, publier, archiver, publish, archive, preserve, conserve, sauvegarder, conserver, transmettre au public communicate to the public by par telecommunication ou par Nnternet, prefer, telecommunication or on the Internet, distribuer et vendre des theses partout dans le loan, distribute and sell theses monde, a des fins commerciales ou autres, sur worldwide, for commercial or non­ support microforme, papier, electronique et/ou commercial purposes, in microform, autres formats. paper, electronic and/or any other formats. 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This reproduction or copy of this thesis has been made available by authority of the copyright owner solely for the purpose of private study and research, and may only be reproduced and copied as permitted by copyright laws or with express written authorization from the copyright owner. Acknowledgement I offer my humblest and sincerest words of thanks to my Almighty Allah, who bestowed me with the potential and ability to make material contributions to the already existing ocean of knowledge. The author acknowledges with deep respect and gratitude, the sincere advice and inspiring guidance extended by Professor Alan Tate, Department of Landscape Architecture, for his keen interest, needed help, valuable suggestions, constructive criticism, and timely advice as well as doing tedious editing during the course of studies. I am highly indebted to my committee members, Professor Brenda Brown, Department of Landscape Architecture and Helen Fabbri, Landscape Architect for their sincere advice and technical backup. The author is highly grateful to his parents and extends a deep appreciation to his wife, Tahira Asghar Khan, for her wisdom, encouragement and an unfailing support to help the author finish his graduate school. I thank my children Palwasha Khan, Shanza Khan and Moeid Ahmed Khan for providing spiritual support, inspiration and energy when needed. I also offer my sincerest thanks to my friends who co-operated in the completion of my research work. TABLE OF CONTENTS Definition of sustainable and sustainable development 1 Relationship between Landscape Architecture and Sustainability 2 CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 5 CHAPTER TWO: DESCRIPTION OF THE STUDY AREA 11 Physiography of Pakistan 12 Land cover 14 Land Degradation 16 Brief History of Lahore 17 Area 1 Pre 1849) 18 Area 2 (1849-1947) 22 Area 3 (since 1947) 24 Geography and Demography of Lahore 26 Topography 27 Hydrological status 28 Water Resources, Climate 29 Humidity 31 Economy 32 Socio - Cultural Conditions 33 Lahore from a landscape perspective 33 Problems of unsustainable landscape 38 Urban water pollution 40 CHAPTER THREE: LITERATURE REVIEW 45 CHAPTER FOUR: RELATIONSHIP OF WATER RESOURCES SEWERAGE AND DRAINAGE WITH THE LANDSCAPE OF LAHORE 60 Major Green Spaces in Lahore 65 CHAPTER FIVE: STRATGIES FOR A MORE SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPE FOR LAHORE 69 Proposed Water Bodies 69 Vegetation, Green spaces around water bodies 72 Proposed Walkways and Trails Connections 77 Sustainable landscape design elements 78 Zones for Sustainable Landscape Design 80 Zone A 81 Zone B 83 Zone C 87 Zone D 89 Zone E 92 CHAPTER SIX: SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS 95 APPENDIX A: Desilting Sewers Mechanism 103 APPENDK B: Recommended plant species for Lahore 105 BIBLIOGRAPHY 114 List of Figures Figure 1: Location of Pakistan and its Four Provinces 11 Figure 2: Physiography of Pakistan 12 Figure 3: Punjab Rivers 13 Figure 4: Land Degradation in Pakistan 16 Figure 5: Major Areas of the City of Lahore— 17 Figure 6: Main Features of Area l(Pre 1849) 18 Figure 7: Main Features of Area 2 (1849-1947) 21 Figure 8: Main Features of Area 3 (since 1947) 24 Figure 9: Irrigation Channels 35 Figure 10: Drains and Stormwater Channels 62 Figure 11: Drainage Pattern 63 Figure 12: Drainage Disposal and Pumping Stations 64 Figure 13: Major Parks and Green Spaces 65 Figure 14: Proposed Water Bodies 69 Figure 15: Green Spaces Around Water Bodies 73 Figure 16: Proposed Walkways and Trails Connections 77 Figure 17: Zones for Sustainable Landscape Design 80 Figure 18: Zone A 81 Figure 19: Zone B 84 Figure 20: Zone C 88 Figure 21: Zone D 90 Figure 22: Zone E 93 Definition of Sustainable and sustainable development According to dictionary definition, sustainable means 1- capable of being sustained 2- capable of being continued with minimal long-term effect on the environment. (http://www.answers.com/sustainable") Sustainable development according to a free encyclopedia is a "socio-ecological process characterized by the fulfillment of human needs while maintaining the quality of the natural environment indefinitely". (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainable_developmentV The linkage between environment and development was globally recognized in 1980, when the International Union for the Conservation of Nature published the World Conservation Strategy and used the term "sustainable development". The concept came into general usage following publication of the 1987 report of the Brundtland Commission - formerly, the World Commission on Environment and Development. Set up by the United Nations General Assembly, the Brundtland Commission coined the definition of sustainable development as development that "meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." Although commendable, this definition is vague and now a day-to-day operational definition of sustainable development is conceptually broken into three parts: environmental sustainability, economic sustainability, socio-political sustainability. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainable development-) -1- Relationship between Landscape Architecture AND Sustainability This relationship is best explained as "Landscape architecture is the profession committed to the creation of meaningful and vital outdoor places and to the sustainable management of our environment. Landscape architects strive to establish a balance between our use and enjoyment of the land with the conservation and health of the environment". (http://csla.ca/site/index.php?q=en/node/5) The above analysis shows strong connection between sustainability, ecology and design and landscape architecture. Correspondingly sustainability focuses on learning and applying ecological principles and on efficient use of resources. Thus sustainable landscape is incorporating this knowledge in design. This approach is not reflected in the landscape of Lahore, Pakistan - the subject area of this practicum. The landscape of Lahore is not sustainable either from the Brundtland Commission's definition of development where the emphasis is to "meet the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs" or from an ecological point of view where the need is to follow ecological principles in designing sustainable landscapes. This is taken to be a landscape that helps in promoting plant cover, tree planting, forestry, use of native plants, biological control, water harvesting, access to local parks, promotion of community gardening, and promotion of natural water courses and wetland habitats and that helps to reduce energy and health cost bills. The present landscape is not designed or managed in a way that helps with the recharge of water resources and energy saving. Water, a fundamental and essential resource for human survival, is being depleted and polluted at "an alarming rate -2- resulting in [a] mean average decline in ground water level by 620 mm per year". (Initial Environmental Examination Report, 2004, p. 34) If this trend continues there will be very little clean water left for the next generation. According to the Pakistan Water Sector Strategy, "water availability on a per capita basis has been declining at an alarming rate, from about 5,000 cubic meters per capita in 1951 to about 1,100 currently and .