Change and Human Activities on Date Palm Growth and Distribution in Al-Mamal, Baghdad

The study was conducted in the Al-Maamel area, east of Baghdad, which represents an urban ecosystem highly affected by human activities, including small industries, indiscriminate burning sites, and unregulated dumping. A stratified sampling design was adopted that included six sites that differed in pollution severity and land uses. Field data were collected over two years with three seasonal campaigns (December, April, September) to evaluate climatic and human influences on the physiological and chemical characteristics of date palm trees (Phoenix dactylifera L.). The climatological data recorded over the years 2015 to 2025 revealed an increase in temperature range of 1-1.5 °C with reduced precipitation rates in industrial areas and leschars, leading to higher thermal and water stress on vegetation. The less polluted areas (S1, S5) recorded higher values in terms of vegetation density, coverage, and diversity compared to the polluted areas (S2, S4, S6) as a result of the direct effect on plant communities. On the physiological aspect, there was a considerable decrease in chlorophyll (SPAD) content, biomass, and relative water content in leaves, as well as reduced stomatal conductance in return for enhanced leaf thickness and reduced specific leaf area (SLA) as a result of heat and water stress. On the chemical aspect, palm leaves recorded considerable reductions in the content of starches, total sugars, and proteins as a result of reduced metabolic rates and suppressed photosynthesis driven by stress factors presented by environmental conditions. NDVI analysis revealed considerable reduced values in the polluted area as compared to others. This corresponds to reduced physiological functions and carbon assimilation as a result of stress effects on vegetation. ANOVA and GLM tests supported the existence of significant difference values between different sites, as well as emphasized the influential role played by climatological data on biological functions. These findings indicate the crucial role presented by the relationship established between climate and human stress on the functions and productivity of palm vegetation as an efficient indicator to evaluate stress effects on semi-arid urban environments