Afforestation – The Miyawaki Way

Afforestation is the establishment of a forest or stand of trees in an area where there was no previous tree cover. The Miyawaki forest, pioneered by Akira Miyawaki, a Japanese botanist, is an urban forest which has been grown in a distinctive manner. It combines the natural elements with the ingenuity of man to find solutions for the betterment of this environment where all life forms exist. This is an urgent requirement now with the climate change challenges that could tilt the balance of natural forces on earth.

With this method, an urban forest can grow within a period of 20-30 years whereas a natural forest takes around 200-300. In this method various species of native plants are planted close to each other so that the greens receive sunlight only from the top and grow upwards than sideways. As a result, the plantation becomes approximately 30 times denser, grows 10 times faster and becomes maintenance-free after a span of 3 years.
The native trees of a region can be classified into four layers. The first is of shrubs that grow upto 6 feet, the second layer is of trees that grow upto 25 feet, the third of trees that grow upto 40 feet and the final layer is the canopy which grows above 40 feet. Saplings when planted should have a height ranging between 24 to 32 inches. On an average there should be 3-5 saplings in one square meter.

The earth should be prepared with a mixture of compost, coco peat and grain husk which acts as a perforator. Organic fertilisers such as goat and cow manure have to be applied for nourishment. Do not follow a repetitive pattern while planting the saplings. Once the saplings are planted, a thick layer of mulch should be evenly laid on the soil to insulate the soil and prevent water erosion. Staking each plant for about a year will keep them upright in growth.

Water the forest once a day and keep the forest free from weeds for the first 2 years. Do not use any chemicals like pesticides or inorganic fertilisers. Monitor the forest every 2 months to check the growth of all the plants and do not cut or prune the forest.

A Miyawaki forest is thickly leaved and this multi- strata forest is estimated to have 25–30 times the green surface area of monostratal grass. With underground organic compounds, multistratal forests also contribute to the reduction of CO2. Buildings can be completed in a short period with financial backing. For a multistratal forest it takes long biological time to regenerate using living green materials. It is urgent to start the restoration and reconstruction of native environments immediately.

By Philip Dany, Green Brigade Horticulture, Kochi