In the 1970s, Japanese scientist Akira Miyawaki introduced a way to grow small forests quickly. His method is now used worldwide to turn empty lots and old parking areas into self-sustaining mini-forests.
Miyawaki planted over 40 million trees in more than 15 countries. Now, these tiny forests are growing all over the world, with hundreds in India and thousands in Japan. But as the method gains traction, a pressing question emerges: Is this truly the panacea for urban greening and urban forestry, or are we overlooking crucial ecological nuances?
How it works
Miyawaki grouped Japanese forest plants into four types: main tree species, subspecies, shrubs, and ground-covering herbs.
Here's how the method works:
- The method begins by improving the soil by analysing the designated forest site to assess its composition and condition.
- The soil quality is then improved using locally available sustainable materials.
- Approximately 50 to 100 local plant species are selected and planted in clumps as seedlings to simulate a natural forest
- Seedlings are densely planted, ranging from 30,000 to 50,000 per hectare, significantly higher than the typical 1,000 per hectare in commercial forestry.
- The site is monitored, watered, and weeded for two to three years
The forests need maintenance only for the first two to three years. After that, the grove is allowed to develop naturally. The dense planting encourages rapid growth among the seedlings as they compete for sunlight.
A brief history
Born in Okayama Prefecture in 1928, Akira Miyawaki's early research into weeds piqued the interest of German botanist Reinhold Tüxen. This led to the former’s departure for Germany in 1958 to further his studies.
There, Tüxen introduced him to the idea of potential natural vegetation, which became the foundation of Miyawaki's future work. Inspired by this idea, he returned to Japan in 1960 to document the country's native plant life. Despite centuries of human intervention, Miyawaki found reference points in the undisturbed forests surrounding Shinto shrines.
(Source: https://www.afforestt.com/)With the backing of Japanese corporations, Miyawaki’s method gained international recognition. In the late 1980s, Mitsubishi Corporation proposed the first project to restore a tropical rainforest in Malaysia, marking the technique’s expansion into Southeast Asia. Miyawaki's in-depth knowledge of the region's vegetation proved invaluable in this endeavour.
Collaborating with multinational companies to apply his method overseas led Miyawaki in 1999 to propose that “quasi-natural forests can be built in 15-20 years in Japan and 40-50 years in Southeast Asia.”
Why the Miyawaki method?
The forests grown in the Miyawaki fashion have several advantages compared to the traditional forests – but only when done right.
Shubhendu Sharma, founder and director of Afforestt, a native forest-planting firm that popularised the Miyawaki method in India, believes that most opposition to Miyawaki is against poorly executed projects. “Properly following the methods would yield results,” he said.
“Finding the native species in a region is a complex process. Many who say they practise ‘Miyawaki’ don’t take it seriously and go to a nearby nursery to identify the local species. Identifying the right species and the combination of plants that can go together is the crux,” he added.
A Miyawaki plot under construction (Source: Sanju Soman)Benefits include
- Rapid forest regeneration: Miyawaki forests grow much faster than traditionally planted forests due to the dense planting of native species, encouraging healthy competition.
- Low maintenance: Miyawaki forests require minimum maintenance after the initial three years, making them a cost-effective solution in the long run.
- Environmental benefits
- Captures carbon: Absorb 30 times more carbon than monoculture plantations.
- Air and water purification: Improve air quality by absorbing pollutants and filtering water runoff.
- Biodiversity enhancement: Create habitats for various plant and animal species, promoting biodiversity.
- Soil health: Prevent soil erosion, improve soil health, and increase water retention.
- Economic benefits
- Ecotourism potential: These forests can be developed into recreational areas and educational centres, generating revenue through ecotourism activities.
- Sustainable forestry: By incorporating native trees with economic value, Miyawaki forests can provide a sustainable source of timber.
- Social benefits
- Community engagement: Planting and maintaining Miyawaki forests can foster a sense of community ownership and environmental awareness.
- Urban green space: These forests create green spaces in urban areas, improving residents' overall quality of life
(Source: https://www.afforestt.com/)Disadvantages
The forestry technique has a fair share of experts and practitioners raising concerns related to the method:
- Applicability and unintended consequences
- Limited ecological suitability: Many experts question whether the method works across all climates, particularly tropical regions.
- Disrupting existing ecosystems: Planting trees in historically non-forested areas like Kutch, Jaipur, and Hyderabad can disrupt existing plant and animal life adapted to those dry conditions.
- Altered hydrology: Pumping water and nutrients for Miyawaki forests in dry areas can deplete resources needed by native plants and grasses, impacting the region's natural water cycle.
- Introducing non-native species: Often, ecological niches are overlooked, and non-native plants are selected for the Miyawaki technique. This shallow understanding of native species can disrupt established ecological processes and cause unforeseen problems.
- Resource intensive
- The method requires significant labour, materials, land, and energy, which can be expensive and logistically challenging.
- Limited ecological benefits and potential drawbacks
- False equivalence to natural forests: Miyawaki forests have limited space, may not reflect the region's true complex ecosystem, and may limit space for wildlife movement compared to natural forests.
- Uncertain impact on rainfall: The actual effect of Miyawaki forests on rainfall is still being determined.
- Focus on timber trees: Prioritising timber trees reduces the natural diversity of tree types within the ‘forest’.
- Climate concerns and greenwashing
- Fossil fuel reliance: Implementation and maintenance reliant on fossil fuels could negate the carbon benefits of the ‘forest’.
- Some use Miyawaki forests to justify cutting down old-growth forests, which are irreplaceable and have unique ecological value.
A Miyawaki forest in backyard (Source: https://www.afforestt.com/)An answer to deforestation?
While some laud the technique as a promising solution for areas with land scarcity and heightened air pollution, many argue that dense and impenetrable Miyawaki forests are not ideal for cities.
Many perceive that these patches of ‘forest’ in cities should be welcoming spaces for people and pets, encouraging interaction with nature while preserving local biodiversity. They should be open, inviting, and visually appealing, allowing plants to flourish naturally.
While creating green spaces in urban areas is the need of the hour, Miyawaki ‘forests’ cannot replace extensive native forests. Efforts must continue to protect and preserve existing forest ecosystems threatened by commercial activities and unsustainable practices.
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