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Creating Tiny Forests Using the Miyawaki Method

2022-08-16T09:15:00+00:00

The World Needs Forests

Forests are important. They are home to 80% of the globe’s wildlife population, they reduce soil erosion, lessen the impact of floods, and they remove incredible amounts of carbon-dioxide from our atmosphere, ensuring we have breathable air. The tropical forests alone store around 250 billion tons of carbon. Without forests cleaning our air, life on Earth couldn’t continue – at least not for us – but we continue to lose our forests at a concerning rate. Between 1990 and 2015, we lost 129 million hectares of forest (nearly 500,000 square miles). While deforestation has slowed, we are far from reaching a balanced, sustainable relationship with our forests. Our forests – and us in turn – will only survive if we deploy all available means to reduce deforestation and support new growth.

Afforestation – planting forests upon land previously unforested – can be a massive undertaking, but it’s one of the few things communities can do to soften the blow of global deforestation. Thanks to the late Akira Miyawaki, Japanese botanist and specialist in natural vegetation restoration, a method for afforestation has been developed that allows for small-scale, rapid forestation. This method is now commonly known as the Miyawaki Method.

The Miyawaki Method

The Miyawaki Method was developed to support the rapid growth of diverse native plant species in relatively small spaces with minimal maintenance. The method only requires a minimum space of 1000 square feet, grows ten times faster than naturally-growing forests, and the planted forest can survive nearly maintenance-free after only three years of growth. The rapid growth of Miyawaki forests is attributed to the densely-packed planting and the use of native plant species. Native species are, of course, going to be the best candidates to thrive in the selected planting location, because they’ve evolved over the course of centuries to do just that. A biodiverse selection of plants also lends itself to the long-term stability of the forest – diversity creates a layered canopy and ecological resilience. Then, being packed closely together, they’re forced into a highly competitive race to soak up the sunlight, resulting in rapid growth. After 20-30 years, the surviving plants and trees will reach heights that would have taken 150-200 years to reach in a natural process.

The resulting tiny forest is also densely-packed with benefits. In addition to supporting local biodiversity and the benefits that always come with new trees, Miyawaki forests are also 30 times better at dust and noise reduction and absorb up to 30 times more carbon-dioxide than monoculture planting projects.

Because the Miyawaki method can be applied in areas with limited land and resources while still resulting in a flourishing forest, it’s perfect for urban settings. A small parcel of land, whether it’s an empty lot or a small portion of a public park, can easily be turned into an urban forest. Urban forests are essential in mitigating the effects of climate change – both locally and globally. Our efforts on the local-scale to rehabilitate and create new forests is an important contribution to the global concerted effort to ensure a livable planet for future generations. With critical deadlines for meaningful climate action approaching quickly, we need to act quickly. Thanks to Akira Miyawaki, we have one more tool at our disposal to make swift, meaningful change.

Forget the Grass, Trees Need Your Help

2022-08-02T09:15:00+00:00

A perfectly green lawn, a long-time indicator of a functioning household and a long-time indicator of wasted resources. The Western fascination with grass lawns goes way back, originating in the gardens of the 18th century English and French upper-class. Drawing inspiration from launds – grassy clearings among trees - in the surrounding European forests, the wealthy sought to recreate the experience in their expansive gardens, leading to what we now recognize as lawns. Lawns eventually made their way to the Americas in the 19th century through our own historical elites – like Thomas Jefferson, an avid horticulturalist. Although home gardens in the US remained dedicated to consumable vegetation for several decades, by the mid-19th century, focus shifted to the ornamental. After the Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia in 1876, where the USDA presented a how-to exhibit on growing your own grass lawn, interest steadily grew throughout the next 100 years. After several innovations made in lawncare in the early 1900s, grass lawns became a standard in the booming American suburbs. Now, another 100 years later, lawns are still as commonplace as ever, but do we have the means to keep this tradition alive?

In short, yes, we do. Despite the megadrought and surging heatwaves, our lawns can survive, because they’re well-propagated for hardship. Of all the plants in our garden, grass is sure to be the one that needs the least amount of water to survive. Although it might brown, it’s still alive and the green will return next year. This browning is part of grass’s seasonal cycle. Like other perennials, grass enters a period of dormancy once it undergoes the stresses of their disfavored seasons. This stage in its annual cycle can be delayed with extensive watering, but our limited resources would be best spent on plants in the garden that need it more.

Trees need our help most. Arguably the most valuable plants in our gardens because of the benefits they provide for our homes and communities, trees should be our top watering priority. While grasses only need half an inch (~1 quart) of water every 2-4 weeks to survive the season, trees require 5-50 gallons of water a week (or more, if the tree is especially large). As sturdy as they appear to be, trees are far more delicate than grass and they need our help to survive the ongoing megadrought, which is predicted to end in 2030 at the earliest. Paired with the fact that extended drought events are expected to become more severe and more common, our focus-shift away from grass and towards trees will likely and necessarily be permanent.

Salt Lake City’s canopy has been steadily receding since the early 2000s, largely due to trees being neglected within recurring periods of drought. Without adequate water, trees either die off or they become too brittle to withstand high winds and dense snow fall, leading to broken branches or treefall. In addition to causing damage to anything beneath them when this happens, we lose the irreplaceable benefits old-growth trees provide. Benefits like cleaner air and shade – things we’ll be immeasurably thankful for in the harsh Summers ahead, things grass can’t provide. Grass doesn’t do much for us and it doesn’t need our help, so let’s concentrate on the plants that do, trees.

ReTree SLC Launches As An Effort To Replant Lost City Trees

2020-09-24T17:48:56+00:00

Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall and TreeUtah today announced ReTree SLC, a joint effort to replace thousands of trees lost throughout the city during the windstorm on September 7 and 8. The effort’s donation portal launched today and funds raised will go toward the replanting of the over 3,000 public trees that were damaged or lost within Salt Lake City boundaries.

“All of us at TreeUtah are saddened by the devastating loss of trees during the storm, but it just heightens our dedication to plant as many trees as possible toward a healthy urban forest. The trees we plant now will provide a better quality of life in Salt Lake City for generations.” -Amy May, TU Executive Director

Trees in Salt Lake City parks were hit especially hard during the storm, with Liberty Park losing 69 trees and the Salt Lake City Cemetery losing 255 trees.

Donors to ReTree SLC have the ability to make single donations or sign up for an ongoing monthly contribution, and they can specify that their donation go towards replanting in a specific park, or wherever a tree is needed most.

Funds raised will directly help purchase trees that are selected to be hardy in the city’s urban environment for generations to come.

ReTree SLC will also include a volunteer effort through TreeUtah for the public to assist in planting trees. Everyone who contributes will be informed of planting opportunities via email and all TreeUtah events HERE.

Donations can be made to TreeUtah by clicking HERE!

SLC Mayor Mendenhall's "ReTree SLC" Speech

2020-09-25T02:25:42+00:00

Thank you all for joining us today. As you know, because you thoroughly covered it... and you lived it, Salt Lake City’s urban forest was hit hard by the hurricane-force windstorm on September 8.

We estimate that more than 1,500 trees were lost in our public spaces, and that doesn’t include the thousands of trees on private property that were toppled.

In addition to the devastating property damage, and some injuries that were reported, we’ve all been saddened at the heartbreaking sight of 100-foot tall trees lying on their sides.

Our westside lost more than 100 Modesto Ash trees from neighborhood parkstrips, which account for the majority of shade in those neighborhoods.

At the City Cemetery, we lost more than 250 trees, dozens of which were 80-foot tall Spruce trees, and one of the most beautiful Austrian Pine trees in the City.

At Liberty Park, we lost a Cottonwood Tree whose trunk was more than 4 feet in diameter, and at Washington Square we lost a Giant Sequioa -- the same species that grows in California and lives for hundreds of years.

As a certified tree-lover, this has been difficult, especially since we know the benefits that trees and tree canopies provide residents, including reducing air pollution, conserving water and reducing erosion, creating shade and places to gather, and increasing property values. Trees are indispensable. But luckily, they aren’t completely irreplaceable.

I’m excited to announce today that we are partnering with TreeUtah to ReTree SLC.

It will be a joint effort to replace thousands of trees. We’ve heard from residents eager to help, and this is the answer. At ReTreeSLC.com, those interested can donate to TreeUtah and volunteer as the replanting efforts get underway this fall and beyond.

We’re excited to have Rocky Mountain Power and Ivory Homes on board with us as well, to support this initiative.

Funds raised will directly help purchase trees that are selected to be hardy in the city’s urban environment for generations to come.

ReTree SLC is in addition to the City’s pledge to plant 1,000 extra trees in 2020, a goal that was in place well before the storm, and that we’re on track to meet in spite of it. We know how important the urban forest is to our city, and we’re committed not only to replanting it, but expanding it.

Donations can be made at retreeslc