This School In Hong Kong Is Planting The City's First Miyawaki Forest
HONG KONGCLIMATE CHANGE
By Sally Ho Published on Sep 5, 2021 Last updated Sep 4, 2021
4 Mins Read
In Hong Kong, a school is now planting the citys first Miyawaki forest, a miniature forest-planting method developed by late Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki. Partnering with newly established local social enterprise Nature Makers Lab, ICHK Hong Lok Yuen will be planting more than 50 native species on site as part of the schools environmental education push.
ICHK, an international school in Hong Kong, is now setting up the citys first Miyawaki forest as part of its new environmental program. It has partnered up with Nature Makers Lab, a social enterprise dedicated to expanding Hong Kongs urban green spaces. The school, located in Tai Po district, will be using the Miyawaki method to plant its miniature forest and boost carbon sequestration on-site.
Miyawaki forest
Invented by Japanese botanist and plant ecologist Akira Miyawaki in the 1980s, the method of planting Miyawaki forests involves planting a wide range of native trees, canopies and shrubs extremely densely within small plots of land. Planting 3-4 trees per square metre of land, the idea is to create tiny versions of forests that mimic the layers and composition of a real one.
After a few years, Miyawaki forests become self-sustainingthey grow incredibly fast, around 10-times faster than a natural forest would appear in the wild. Once they are self-sufficient, these miniature forests can absorb more carbon dioxide and pollution than traditional reforestation projects, as well as provide a hotspot for biodiversity to thrive again.
More:
https://www.greenqueen.com.hk/hong-kong-school-miyawaki-forest/