Assessing the role, position and challenges facing the development of planting Conocarpus erectus L. in order to improve the environmental conditions affected by pollutants and dust (Case study on Ahvaz city)

Conocarpus erectus L, which occupies more than 60% of the green space of Ahvaz, has been faced with baseless and populist accusations such as non-use for nesting birds, and non-use for its gum and various parts by insects and other animals. Also, it has become a dangerous threat by identifying this plant as the cause of respiratory diseases and autumn allergies in the city of Ahvaz and the southern parts of Khuzestan province. On the other hand, some people believe this plant, with its fast-growing characteristics, is a profitable and investment-friendly species for seedlings, and these are perhaps the simplest general views of the Conocarpus tree in Iran. The results of scientific research indicate that the presence of this plant in the green spaces of Khuzestan province and Ahvaz city can have many beneficial effects for the region and can also be a platform for the development of green space diversification. Perhaps one of the biggest problems of this plant is its allergenic nature. According to the researches, not only this plant is not allergenic, but also due to frequent pruning, it grows only in the vegetative phase and does not enter the reproductive phase. However, the incorrect location of this plant in some urban areas due to the lack of proper infrastructure makes problems for the faulty municipal sewage network and also poses a risk to the electricity supply network that must be considered. In this article, by considering scientific sources and materials, the role, position and challenges facing the development of planting this plant, regardless of public and populist views, have been discussed in order to improve the environmental conditions affected by pollutants and dust.