Meenu Sadhotra
Miyawaki is a technique pioneered by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki, born in 1928, he is one of the foremost experts on forest ecology and is responsible for spearheading the Miyawaki Method of planting forests. This was largely driven through his education and learning of potential natural vegetation (PNV) and phytosociology (plant sociology). It was through this that he developed what has now come to be known as the Miyawaki method of producing naturally biodiverse forests. Miyawaki was also influenced by the chinju-no-mori or sacred forests surrounding Japanese shinto shrines and cemeteries, home to a variety of indigenous plants, that played a key role in his studies. Armed with these findings and his own expertise, he developed his signature method of planting forests that helps build dense, native forests in a short time. It has revolutionised the concept of urban afforestation by turning backyards into mini-forests. This method includes planting trees (only native species) as close as possible in the same area which not only saves space, but the planted saplings also support each other in growth and block sunlight reaching the ground, thereby preventing the growth of weed. The saplings become maintenance-free (self sustainable) after the first three years.The approach is supposed to ensure that plant growth is 10 times faster and the resulting plantation is 30 times denser than usual. Miyawaki method helps to create a forest in just 20 to 30 years, while through conventional methods it takes anywhere between 200 to 300 years.
What is a Miyawaki forest ?
Designed by Akira Miyawaki in the 1980s, these urban forests are grown using the Miyawaki method. Such forests can be grown in small patches in urban areas or even in your backyard, and typically make use of native or local seeds and saplings. And the unique thing about this is that these forests grow quickly in small areas and consist of densely packed trees and shrubs, ideal for cluttered urban landscapes. The plants and trees grow upwards towards the sunlight and the biodiverse forest also attracts fauna like butterflies and bees that are beneficial for the ecosystem.
What is the Miyawaki method ?
The native trees of the region are identified and divided into four layers – shrub, sub-tree, tree, and canopy. The quality of soil is analysed and biomass which would help enhance the perforation capacity, water retention capacity, and nutrients in it, is mixed with it. A mound is built with the soil and the seeds are planted at a very high density – three to five saplings per square meter. The ground is covered with a thick layer of mulch.
The first step begins with locating an area that is at least three to four meters wide and is well-exposed to sunlight, preferably eight hours or more. You then prepare the soil so that its composition is ideal for growth. Typically, perforators like wheat husk or corn husk are used for water to seep through the soil, along with coco peat that helps the soil to retain moisture. Manure or organic fertilisers can also be used to make the soil fertile. The next step is choosing different varieties and native species of plant saplings for instance, Neem, Jamun or tamarind to create a biodiverse forest space. Ideally, different species of plants should be placed together so that no two saplings of the same species are planted together. The saplings should also be planted in a multi-layer fashion beginning with a shrub layer (up to six feet), followed by a sub-tree (up to 12 feet) and tree layer (up to 25 feet), and ending with a canopy layer (up to 40 feet). Saplings should be planted, maintaining an approximate 60-centimetre distance between them and should have bamboo sticks tied to them so they remain upright. Once everything has been planted, make sure to water the patch everyday.
Concerns Such forests lack some qualities of natural forests, such as medicinal properties. Such fast-growing plantations are a parcel of a woodland or forest capable of small-scale production of forest products (such as wood fuel, sap for maple syrup, saw logs, and pulpwood) as well as recreational uses like bird watching, bushwalking, and wildflower appreciation) and cannot be termed as forests. Several environmentalists have questioned the efficacy of the method that accelerates the growth of trees and claims to match a forest’s complex ecosystem (as it is not a good idea to force plants to photosynthesize fast).
Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ episode spoke about Miyawaki plantation, the Japanese method of creating dense urban forests in a small area. The PM also cited the example of a Kerala-based teacher, Raafi Ramnath, who used the Miyawaki technique to transform a barren land into a mini forest called Vidyavanam by planting 115 varieties of trees.
How is Miyawaki useful?
The dense green cover of indigenous trees plays a key role in absorbing the dust particles of the area where the garden has been set up. The plants also help in regulating surface temperature. Some of the common indigenous plants that are used for these forests include Anjan, Amla, Bel, Arjun and Gunj.
“These green patches play a major role in regulating the carbon levels of a given area. Also, these forests encourage new biodiversity (flora and fauna) and an ecosystem is developed around it, which in turn increases the fertility of the soil and regulates surface temperature. These forests help in rain water and soil conservation, benefit us by increased oxygen supply. These forests offer green cover, reduced temperatures, and sustainable future.
One such forest developed by Dr. Radhakrishnan Nayar, co-founder of largest Miyawaki forest, in Kutch, Gujarat. This forest covers an area of 470 acres, which is Morden India’s largest Memorial also known as Smriti van, commemorating the victims of 2001 Bhuj earthquake. It has 50 check dams storing rain water, giving livelihood opportunities. According to the civic body’s data, 64 Miyawaki forests have been planted in Mumbai so far. The Miyawaki drive was launched under BMC’s urban forest project on January 2, 2020 and the first such forest was created in Bhakti Park at Chembur in the eastern suburbs.One such forest under this project was created at Chandivali’s Nahar Amrut Shakti Udyan, wherein over 41,000 plants were planted over 13 acres.Civic officials said that more than 4,00,000 trees have been planted in these 64 forests so far. The BMC’s Garden cell had earmarked 1,100 plots across Mumbai for setting up these forests, back in 2020, out of which more than 60 have been completed.
Future Plans: BMC aims to create 14 more urban forests by planting 80,400 trees of various indigenous species. The civic body said that some of the new Miyawaki forests are expected to be developed at an open plot close to BEST Colony, Chandivali’s Swami Vivekanand Udyan and a plot at Jogeshwari’s Mahakali caves road, which, with a total bank of 30,000 plants, is going to be the largest in the project. The Mumbai civic body has created 64 such forests in several open land parcels of the city. Telangana government has introduced this Japanese “Miyawaki” method of afforestation to grow urban forests and expand the green cover as well as to meet the stipulated plantation target under the Telanganaku Haritha Haaram (TKHH) With each passing year turning hotter than the next year, these state back environmental initiatives are a great benefit to ecosystem. References taken from Internet, Google search..
(The author is Senior Assistant Professor, Department of Zoology, Govt College for Women, Parade, Jammu)
