Over the years, the number of forests and amount of natural vegetation have reduced drastically.Deforestation has increased due to many reasons and has partly led to the deterioration of the overall environment of the Earth. The Miyawaki method is a practice of ecological engineering that promotes afforestation.A natural forest can flourish beautifully without any human interference. When humans take up the space meant for forests, curbing the natural growth and the biodiversity in that area, it can lead to climate change and global warming. Miyawaki forests can help increase the forest cover around the world if more and more people accept and practice this method of afforestation. The increasing awareness about environmental issues and promoting a greener planet have made many communities and individuals participate in creating forests and planting trees wherever possible. Utilizing the Miyawaki method and creating Miyawaki forests can help a lot in the cause of improving the environment and reducing global warming.The History Of The Miyawaki MethodThe Miyawaki method was named after the man who created it, Akira Miyawaki. He was a Japanese botanist interested in plant ecology and native forests. This method of planting forests has been popular in recent years because of the positive impact it has made.The base of the Miyawaki method began in the ’70s when Akira Miyawaki began advocating the restoration of a natural forest. He saw that the native forests weren’t getting the required protection. He studied the tree species which surrounded the temples, cemeteries, and shrines in Japan. He observed that these were protective forests around the temples that humans were prohibited from interfering with. He noticed that the species of trees that grew in these areas were actually artifacts of the primary forest. He also noticed that some species which were considered to be native trees of Japan were, in reality, plant species introduced by foresters over the centuries. Miyawaki pondered over the effect of the change in the natural vegetation of the forests in Japan due to these introduced species.He found that just 0.06% of the contemporary forests of Japan were actually indigenous forests. According to Miyawaki, the contemporary forests which were created according to the current forestry principles were not fit to make positive climate change and were not well adapted to Japan’s geo-bioclimatic conditions. By making use of the potential natural vegetation (PNV) theory, Miyawaki created the Miyawaki method of creating forests. Through experimentation, Miyawaki found that the forests that he planted grew fast and showed more resilience when there was no human intervention. He planted forests by using the seeds of native species of trees. Miyawaki forests gained popularity after their introduction to urban areas.How to make a mini forest with the Miyawaki method?To plant a Miyawaki forest in any type of space first needs the knowledge of what the method focuses on. The Miyawaki forest method is all about the restoration of native forests by making use of seeds from native trees.These seeds are planted in soil of an area that has been deforested and does not have humus. A Miyawaki forest can also be part of urban forests created in urban spaces. A Miyawaki forest can also be of any size to fit the area chosen for the forest. Following the Miyawaki method, the first step in the process is to study the texture of the soil of the area where the forest has to be planted, along with calculating the biomass in the area.By studying the texture of the soil, the water-retaining capacity and nutrient retaining capacity can be determined. Various materials such as soil perforators, water retainers, and organic fertilizers are added to the soil to make it more rich and suitable for sustaining the roots of the trees. Even mulch is added to the soil to protect it from direct sunlight. If direct sunlight falls on the soil, it will make it too dry, and it will then not be able to sustain the native saplings. The mulch can include wheat straw, rice straw, or corn straw.The next step is the selection of species of trees to plant. Creating or consulting a database of native species in the area is part of the process. These native species have to be studied in order to understand which of them would be a good choice to grow in the forest you are creating. Out of all of them, a choice has to be made for five major native species and some supporting species to be planted.After this, a plan has to be designed for the forest, which involves a master plan and a separate watering plan. The master plan details the exact area to be used for the forest and the list of materials that will be required to execute the plan. Meanwhile, the watering plan includes the layout of the water pipelines around the trees which will be planted and the daily requirement of water for each species. Then there is also a project execution which involves designating areas for storage.The area where the forest is to be planted has to be prepared. Any weeds or litter should be removed from the site. Followed by that the water facilities have to be installed, and the actual area for forestation has to be marked, and fences have to be put up. Approach roads have to be made to maneuver between the trees. The sequence in which the trees will be planted has to be created, and each piece has to be given a unique serial number.Only when the plantation of one tree sapling has been appropriately completed should you move on to the next one. The actual plantation work starts after this. Each sapling is carefully put into the ground and covered with soil properly. Materials such as perforators, fertilizers, and water retainers are added to the soil. After the soil is prepared, a mound is created, which is unique to the Miyawaki method. In contrast to how in normal practice, for each sapling, there is a separate dig, in the Miyawaki method, all the saplings are put on that single mound.The plants have to be placed in a multi-layered form on the mound to resemble a natural forest. Once the plantation is done, then mulch is added to the soil. While planting, remember not to put two trees of the same species together and also not to plant them in a pattern. The plants should be grouped differently for each layer. Following these measures ensures that the forest has a dense plantation.The plant shouldn’t be compacted by the soil. Instead, it should be loose and aerated. Each plant has to be supported by a stick until it has grown enough to support itself. After the plantation is done, the first watering needs to be carried out for an hour. The nascent forest must be looked after and watered regularly in the first three years. After three years, the Miyawaki forest becomes an independent forest that can sustain itself without any intervention from humans.Miyawaki Method PrinciplesThe Miyawaki method has been inspired by the resilient nature of ancient forests. There are a few key principles of the Miyawaki method.The most important principle of the Miyawaki method is to create dense forests of trees that naturally grow in a particular area in order to improve the biodiversity of that forest area. Another principle of this method of foresting involves planting or growing a diverse range of greenery in a small area.The green cover provided by Miyawaki forests must help climate change and help improve the environment. It must become an ecosystem in itself that help the natural selection process of nature.These forests, apart from the care required in the first two or three years, do not need any further help to grow. After the first three years, they become self-sufficient and can provide and grow by themselves.Applications Of The Miyawaki MethodThe Miyawaki method has gained popularity in the past few years. As more and more urban spaces strive to become greener, Miyawaki forests have helped achieve this goal.This method of afforestation has been used worldwide in many countries. Apart from being used in Japan, which is its place of origin, this method has also been used in Italy, France, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, India, the United States, and the United Kingdom. One of the reasons behind the increased use of the Miyawaki methodology is its success rate.The Miyawaki concept provides a chance for greenery even in small and compressed spaces, be it in an urban area or a rural area. However, as much as Miyawaki forests have helped increase the forest areas in the world, it has also received a fair amount of criticism. If you really want to check if this method actually works or not, it will require for you to actually try creating a forest using the steps mentioned.
Over the years, the number of forests and amount of natural vegetation have reduced drastically.
