I first came across the term ‘Miyawaki forests’ through a Youtube video a few years back and since then, had been quite fascinated with its concept, about which I will explain shortly.

India’s Disappearing Forests

Forest cover is being reduced at an alarming rate due to rapid urbanisation and population growth. In countries like India that are highly vulnerable to climate breakdown, forests are an integral element towards mitigation. Tree cover of almost 2.33 million hectares was lost between 2000 and 2023 in India, according to a study released by the World Resources Institute.

The bustling cities in India have  become congested due to population influx, rapid growth and hap hazard urbanization. It is difficult to find sustainable green covers in and around the cities and expansion of the cities has led to creation of concrete jungles. The absence of green cover has led to multitude of problems in cities over time, primary one being air pollution due to vehicular and industrial emissions.

How do we tackle this mammoth problem? How do we get green covers in urban areas The solution is Miyawaki method surely! And what is Miyawaki method? A breath of fresh air I would say, pun intended…!

Miyawaki forests to the rescue!

A brilliant concept by Japanese ecologist Akira Miyawaki, Miyawaki method is an afforestation technique for cultivating fast-growing groves of native plants, with the dense, mixed planting intended to simulate the layers of a natural forest, which can be adopted in urban areas providing the much-needed green lungs for cities and help tackle the air pollution. These forests aim to restore biodiversity and mitigate climate change by creating native ecosystems in small spaces, like pockets of forestry in urban areas. This method was initially adopted by various Japanese corporations which planted Miyawaki forests both domestically & overseas.

Miyawaki forests in India

In June 2009, Toyota developed the first Miyawaki forest of India, in four-hectare land around their manufacturing plant located at Bidadi town of Bangalore in Karnataka state with the technical assistance of Dr. Miyawaki. Since then, it has been adopted by quite a few local agencies to create fast growing urban forests by Miyawaki method in the cities in India.

A few NGOs and service providers have been engaging in creating native forests in the country using Miyawaki method such as  Afforestt,  SayTrees, Forest Creators, Invis multimedia, RISE foundation etc. They have already established hundreds of Miyawaki forests throughout the country with the help & support from State governments & corporate houses.

Some notable Indian Miyawaki forest projects

The existing Miyawaki forest located at Shamshabad, on the outskirts of Hyderabad in Telengana State, is due to be expanded by an additional 100 acres, making it the world’s largest Miyawaki method afforestation project.

This is being developed by the startup Stonecraft Group, a leading biophilic developer and eco-realty conglomerate. The first phase of Woods Shamshabad (as the project is called) comprises a three-year-old man-made forest that is already self-sustaining.

The second project will encompass over 100 acres of total project land, offering 150 individual units sized 1800-3500 square yards.

Woods Shamshabad Phase 2 will deploy a fast-growing forestation technique that fosters the rapid development of a thriving native ecosystem. Reiterating the existing 4,50,000 trees and plants, over 150 native trees and new plants will be cultivated, spawning an expanded, vibrant natural habitat for more than 141 species of birds and 126 native fruiting and flowering trees.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has been implementing the Miyawaki forest approach in various vacant land areas of Mumbai to combat climate change, reduce pollution levels, and enhance the city’s green cover.

As the city grapples with extreme heat and polluted air, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is on an afforestation spree to develop urban Miyawaki forests across the city.

The civic body is developing 14 new urban forests across various pockets of Mumbai using the Japanese Miyawaki technique, where 80,400 trees will be planted. Nearly 64 mini forests have already been developed under the Urban Forest project launched by the BMC on January 26, 2020, where civic officials claim that over four lakh plants, including many indigenous varieties have been planted.

There are many such notable and successful stories of Miyawaki method being implemented in many parts of the country which gives some hope for the future as regards to afforestation efforts.

The advantages and disadvantages of Miyawaki forests

The denseness of a Miyawaki forest, besides creating biodiversity has other advantages as well. The planting of the Miyawaki forests will significantly enhance carbon capture and improve pollution filtration, contributing to a cleaner and healthier environment. Additionally, the increased canopy cover will mitigate the impact of rainfall on the ground, thereby reducing the risks of flooding and landslides. This dense forest cover will also provide increased shade and promote cooling, an essential benefit for a hot country like India.

While the advantages of the Miyawaki method outweigh the limitations in the long run, it is important to acknowledge certain challenges associated with this afforestation technique.

The Miyawaki method requires substantial manpower and effort, including activities such as digging, importing soil and fertilizers, and using coco peat and compost, making it a costly endeavour. Additionally, the dense planting pattern restricts the movement of wildlife species due to limited space between trees, which is a significant disadvantage if the goal is to create forests that support diverse fauna, unlike urban forests primarily serving as green lungs. Moreover, the amount of rain brought by the trees of the Miyawaki forest is still a question mark.

To wrap up

It was World Population Day last week and much has been said about the negative impact the growth in human numbers has led to, be it mindless pollution, destruction of natural resources etc. We need multiple solutions to tackle these multiple issues endangering the natural environment.

Miyawaki method provides one such solution as trees/forest covers are a must for our survival. Miyawaki method of afforestation owes its popularity due to the positive impact it has created or can create, especially if one is looking for fast track solution for ailing urban settlements crying for green covers.