By Celeste C.B. Bennett
Environmental tragedies happen every day, including massive wildfires, severe flooding, global deforestation, and the burning of precious rainforests, such as the Amazon.
The loss of land, entire ecosystems, animal life, and fragile forests results in intense devastation for people, animals, local economies, and the environment.
Further reading:
- Could ‘treescrapers’ turn NYC neighborhoods into forests?
- North Texas creek reconfigured to follow nature’s original design
- Arboretum in Illinois is a living museum
One way to ameliorate this situation stems from something everyday citizens have been doing for generations: planting trees. While we’ve all probably participated in tree-planting efforts in our communities as a fairly inexpensive and fun way to help the environment, a newer concept known as a microforest can supercharge the benefits of these efforts.
Microforests are helpful in the fight against climate change and the rehabilitation of Earth’s ecosystems because they can grow so quickly, according to Florida-based ecologist Charles Reith, Ph.D. People who plant these forests use an approach called the Miyawaki Method. Developed by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki, the method plants a huge variety of all-native shrub and tree species in very close proximity to one another, on land parcels that are an acre or smaller.
These microforests help offset the loss of natural forests, which contain some of Earth’s most vibrant and longstanding ecosystems. When natural forests are damaged, they can take decades to regrow or, in some cases, are destroyed forever. Trees and forests are unique in the benefits they give Earth, so the loss of these is especially concerning.
Forests not only provide food and shelter to thousands of plants, bacteria, and animals, they also help us breathe clean air. In 2015, the U.S. Department of Agriculture shared that a large tree can create enough oxygen in one day for up to four people. A mature tree can also absorb close to 50 pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in one year.
They also provide cleaner drinking water, particularly in forested watersheds, and they lower surface and air temperatures, either by releasing water vapor into the air or offering shade.
Worsening climate change makes these numerous benefits even more critical to protect.
Take it from Mr. Rogers
As an individual or community, the idea of protecting the environment may seem daunting, especially considering the roles large oil companies and consumer product manufacturers play in emitting carbon dioxide.
Remember: Every small action adds up.
So, just like Fred Rogers said in a 1999 interview about his kids show, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, always look for the helpers. Then learn how to become one.
That’s exactly what a group of people led by Reith did in 2023, executing a microforest project in Florida that planted 1,800 trees on half an acre.
Planting trees in a dense space creates what is known as shade competition, and that encourages trees to grow as quickly as they can to ensure they aren’t shaded out by neighboring trees.
The result is a tiny forest that in just 20 or 30 years is as mature and diverse as a 100-year-old forest. The extreme density and native plant diversity attract native species of birds, organisms, and other animals, creating a hyperlocal green area that can serve multiple purposes. Reith said while the forests will require nurturing and consistent irrigation in the beginning, they will quickly become low maintenance, removing the need for fertilization or consistent mowing.
And the benefits are seemingly endless.
“The real agent of productivity in a microforest tends to be the fungi that populate the roots of the installed plants,” Reith said. “These tend to manage the water balance and extract nutrients from the soil to deliver to the plants. There's a good book called Entangled Life, which explores the importance of fungi in forests.”
Richard Larsen, a forester for the Florida Forest Service, was asked to evaluate Celery Fields, one of the first microforests in Sarasota, Florida. That microforest, Larsen said, “has provided more recreation opportunities and environmental education on forest ecosystems and native trees and has (helped foster) a greater well-being for visitors. Additionally, it has enhanced forest structure, forest health, species composition, and canopy cover at Celery Fields.”
More Florida microforest efforts are being spearheaded by an organization called Sarasota Urban Reforesters. It is a coalition of other local Sarasota nonprofit organizations that value the numerous benefits microforests offer their communities.
While this may be a new concept to many readers, microforests have been planted around the world. A Belgium-based organization called Urban Forests works to educate about microforests and teach communities how to build their own. SUGi is a nonprofit organization that uses the Miyawaki Method and helps design, source plants for, fundraise for, and establish “pocket forests.”
By the beginning of 2024, Urban Forests reports, SUGi had “supported, co-designed, and planted 184 pocket forests in 40 cities in 24 countries around the world.”
Plant your own microforest
Larsen believes the most difficult part of creating a microforest is finding publicly accessible land that local and/or state authorities are willing to provide.
Once land is acquired, he says, it’s important to have soil testing done to learn which tree species will thrive there. Additionally, the types of trees that have historically occupied the space should be considered. These measures can help you accurately create a list of trees to plant.
If soil testing is inaccessible, Reith believes strong, successful microforests can be created without it. “A properly planted forest will do well in any soil, as long as that soil has been properly prepared,” Reith said. “Sheet mulching covered with wood chips will transform any soil.”
Next, map out the area, plan for walking paths and recreational areas if applicable, decide on educational signage and placement, choose which species to plant, and carefully consider spacing for each tree. If trees that aren’t compatible are planted too close together, it can result in tree death or delayed growth.
He says saplings in pots from 5 to 25 gallons are ideal for planting. Typically, the ideal spacing between each tree is 10-12 feet.
Additionally, teams must ascertain the water needs of each species. On average, saplings require at least 5 gallons of water per day for the first two to three weeks. To understand the water requirements of the species planted, consider reaching out to a local forester.
Ultimately, choosing to plant a microforest, especially in an urban area, will be more impactful than planting single trees or a typical forest. When planting a microforest, remember that each space will have its own issues to be addressed, such as erosion or soil biodiversity.
“Groups of trees will always help with local weather patterns, stormwater mitigation, low ambient air temperature, enhanced air quality, and carbon sequestration. Trees are tried and true at (mitigating) climate-induced issues when correctly implemented,” Larsen said.
