Assessing the Ecological Impact of Brown Corridors on Urban Chiroptera Locales in Lawrence Gardens Lahore

Abstract

All the time Lahore was known as “City of Gardens”, it had a long history of urban greenery, providing habitat to a variety of ecological communities. Lawrence Garden was one of these landscapes, with dense vegetation and a large number of species of birds and Chiropterans that were associated with the fruit bearing trees. Early decades saw their numbers regularly be seen perching during the day in the trees and hunting at night but their population has dropped significantly since then. This research examines how urbanization and the development of brown corridors in Lawrance Garden affect the ecological connectivity and Chiropteran habitats. The research is based on comparative analysis of the images from Google Earth from the past 20 years to examine land use and vegetation cover changes. Field observation and public perception surveys were also carried out to determine environmental changes and ecological implications. The results show significant urban expansion, loss of trees, the presence of artificial night lighting, noise pollution from traffic and a decrease in fruit-bearing vegetation. The habitat fragmentation and disturbance of Chiropteran activity within the study area has been caused by these factors. The study suggests the need for conserving and reintroducing dense native trees, creating ecological corridors of low light conditions, restoring urban green connectivity and encouraging public awareness of urban biodiversity conservation. Conserving Chiropteran habitats is crucial for bolstering the city's ecological resilience, reviving biodiversity, and fostering environmental sustainability in the urban environment of Lahore.