Miyawaki forests to Mumbai’s rescue

The Mumbai Climate Action Plan notes that the city lost 2,028 hectares of tree cover between 2016 and 2021. This amounts to one-and-a-half Aarey Milk Colony, which is spread over 1,300 hectares. To make up for this loss, the Urban Development Department has been aggressively promoting the Miyawaki technique for creating dense green patches in one year. 

Pioneered in the 1970s by botanist and plant ecologist Akira Miyawaki of Yokohama National University in Japan, the micro forestation model seeks to expand the green cover by nurturing mostly indigenous species of plants in small patches. A Miyawaki model forest can attain growth within five to ten years, whereas a natural forest takes 25 to 30 years to gain the same level of growth. 

This method involves planting three to four saplings per square metre, using native varieties adapted to local conditions. A wide variety of species – ideally 30 or more – are planted to recreate layers of a natural forest.

The technique compresses layers of a forest – shrubs, trees, canopies – on small plots of land, turning them into tiny forests. Advocates for the method say these mini forests grow 10 times faster and become 30 times denser and 100 times more bio-diverse than those planted through conventional methods.

Miyawaki forests grow in two to three years and are self-sustaining, like how a forest is. It is not a garden, which needs long-term maintenance, where grass needs trimming or watering is done regularly.

In the last three years, the BMC has taken up the project to create small “urban forests” in the city.

The urban forests also help lower temperatures in concrete heat islands, reduce air and noise pollution, attract local birds and insects, and create carbon sinks.

The BMC has set a target of planting four lakh trees in 65 plots across Mumbai at the cost of Rs 32 crore. At present, the BMC has initiated Miyawaki forests at places such as Bhakti Park in Wadala, Worli, Chandivli and Kurla.

Navi Mumbai experimented with the technique at Nisarg Udyan, Koparkairne, where 40,000 saplings of almost 60 indigenous species were planted between January to March 21, 2021. These have now grown up to 20 feet. The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation now plans to plant two lakh trees using the Miyawaki method. The Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation too has taken up a Miyawaki plantation.

Mumbai’s efforts to make amends for the loss of tree cover is one of the reasons why it was listed as a ‘2021 Tree City of the World’ by the United Nations recently.

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