Since 2021, we have successfully planted 12 mini forests at ten sites across private and public greenspaces in Hamilton through our Mini Forest in Hamilton and Mini Forest at Home projects. Growing mini forests will help sequester carbon faster, as trees that grow tall quickly absorb more carbon dioxide than trees that grow slowly. Mini forests also help manage stormwater and improve the air quality of the locale where they are planted.
Mini forests (also known as tiny forests, micro forests or Miyawaki forests) are based on the Miyawaki reforestation method. Named after Akira Miyawaki, a Japanese botanist who developed it, the Miyawaki method is known for its use of dense planting, diverse locally native species, soil preparation, and multilayered design to mimic the complexity of a native forest. Miyawaki Forests consist of four layers: canopy, sub-canopy, small understory trees, and shrubs. This is a new technique for Hamilton, but it has been successful in Zaanstad, Netherlands, Mumbai, India, and other parts of the world for over 40 years. Read our blog about mini forests in Hamilton and learn more about the Miyawaki method.
Adding Mini Forests in urban areas can add more greenery, mitigate stormwater runoff, increase biodiversity, improve air quality, and connect the community back to nature. And importantly, according to Shubhendu Sharma (whose TED talk made the Miyawaki Method famous), Miyawaki Forests result in trees providing these benefits much more quickly, with 10 times faster tree growth rates, and 30 times more CO2 capture.
Check out the six common steps on how to plant your mini forest using the Miyawaki Method.
We are always looking for new sites to plant a mini forest whether it’s on school grounds, parks, or publicly accessible sites!
What is an ideal mini forest site?
Contact us at trees@greenventure.ca if you have a site in mind!
If you don’t have a site in mind and just want to help volunteer at one of our community planting events, head over to our Volunteer Opportunities page for upcoming planting events.
