July 26, 2021: With the entire world populace aware about the decimating natural green cover across the globe, various methods and drives of enhancing the same in order to restore the ecological balance has escalated in terms of their fame. Miyawaki Forest style of afforestation is one such.
Miyawaki Forest
Urban plantation has sipped in into the crowds with the gaps between the rustic green villages and the concrete jungles of the town almost merging together. The desire to push up the green cover statistics has hiked to the peaks. In view of the same, let’s lay our hands upon this Japanese method of forest plantation the Miyawaki method.
The Japanese never failing to leave a mark in any aspect of their life, Miyawaki style of afforestation is one such too.
Miyawaki forest: Where has the term come from?
Akira Miyawaki, is a Japanese botanist and has expertise over natural way of afforestation and plantation. Almost in his ninth decade as a man, he has been monumental in carpeting the idea of artificial forest plantation in the most natural way possible.
His methods and research lay emphasis upon creating an ecology with the inclusion with diverse natural species as per the native nature of the soil. His research areas have a diverse range from temperate of Japan to dry regions of Thailand.
He contributed his expertise in China’s plantation driven of planting as many as 400,000 Mongolian Oaks around the Great Wall of China. He also aids the Chinese population which has shifted from commercial plantation to afforestation for the purpose of growth of greenery in view of the encroaching city culture.
For such assistance towards the green cover’s huge growth, he has been bestowed with various awards for his actions which includes the esteemed and prestigious Blue Planet Prize, Asahi Prize, Japan Culture Life Award etc.
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What is a Miyawaki Forest and how can you have own of yours?
Miyawaki Forest impresses upon the vertical dense growth of various native species of an area with the most natural and organic processes being employed which can be achieved in an area as small as 30 square meters.
The main idea is to include deciduous plants more as compared to the usually reigning coniferous species. To maintain the biodiversity of a natural forests native species of plants are to be grown in an erratic arrangement not crowding plants from the same family within the same group.
Steps to a Miyawaki plantation?
- Soil preparation that includes addition of perforators like husks of grain, biomass, straws, peanut shells, soil nourishing elements like microorganisms, cocopeat and vermicompost and water retainers as required by the natural texture of the soil.
- Getting native species of plants and creating layers of plantation in accordance to the height and the lifespan of the trees.
- Designing the forest in such an erratic and non repetitive manner that it complements the natural aspect of the plantation.
- Regular water supply to the plants and the proper care of weed removal and organic supplementation in the initial years.
Why has this method become popular?
- Lesser land requirement.
- Refrains from artificial fertilizers and pesticides.
- Follows an unusual and uncertain pattern
- Easy for community participation.
- Enhances urban greenery.
- Focuses upon native and indigenous species.
Even Indian plantation organizations based in Bengaluru, Chennai like Say Trees and Afforest respectively with the Miyawaki method has planted about 70,000 and 4.78 lakh trees respectively through community participation.
Written by: Shubham Kumar Nath
