Changes in seasonal pattern, increasing temperatures during winters, untimely rainfall and disappearance of certain bird species are some of the disturbances that weather experts and ecologists are witnessing in Pune. While the loss of green cover cannot be solely blamed for causing the changes, experts state that it has a significant impact on micro climate.
The trees lining many major roads have been cut for widening. It leads to heating of roads and brings changes in micro climate.Trees are the lungs of Pune and if they disappear, there will not be adequate carbon sequestration or absorption which leads to overall warming. This has an impact on seasonal cycles as well as rabi crops due to higher temperature and cloudy skies in winter.
Another negative change because of depleting green cover is the extinction of certain bird species like Green Pigeon and Grey Hornbill.
The vegetation on river banks and along streams are changing. The wild date palm is rapidly disappearing and typha grass is being replaced by a weed, Ipomea. There used to be orchards in areas like Vitthalwadi road and Baner which have also disappeared.