The Miyawaki Movement

---

Can tiny urban forests really make cities greener? Miyawaki forests are popping up across India, from metros like Mumbai and Chennai to smaller cities like Tirunelveli and Rohtak. Coimbatore plans to add 100 such forests by August 15. But with questions around soil compatibility and space constraints, are these quick-growing forests truly the solution to urban greening, or just a passing trend?

Miyawaki Forest in Coimbatore | Source: Covai Chronicle

Miyawaki forest, also known as micro forest, is one of the afforestation techniques pioneered by a Japanese botanist, Akira Miyawaki. The technique has slowly gained momentum in India, where many Indian cities have adopted this method, primarily because of the immediate results rendered by this technique. 

Not only in big cities like Mumbai, Chennai and Hyderabad; these forests have sprung up in smaller urban centres like Tirunelvelli, Tiruchi and Rohtak as well. One of the recent additions to this list is Coimbatore city.

With an aim to make Coimbatore a green city, the civic body has planned to create 100 Miyawaki forests in each of its 100 wards before August 15. Out of these 100, 20 have already been created.

Creating a Miyawaki forest in Tiruchi, 2021 | Source: The Hindu

A Miyawaki forest in Chennai | Source: The Hindu

Even though this technique is being promoted as one of the best practices to create urban forests, some serious questions are also being raised related to its suitability in the Indian environment. If done right, these forests can have massive benefits, but sticking the wrong trees in the wrong soils can prove to be equally harmful.

Some reports claim that due to the rapid spread of this method in India, a majority of Miyawaki projects have been executed without the basic foundations. 

Another area of concern is the lack of adequate space to create these urban forests. Many ecologists suggest that restoration of natural vegetation within available spaces should be the focus of afforestation in urban areas instead of choking small spaces with a large number of trees and shrubs. 

What is your city doing to increase its tree cover?

• Write an answer

To know how Coimbatore Municipal Corporation is creating 100 Miyawaki forests, read here.