Context
The Prime Minister of India highlighted the Miyawaki plantation method, which entails creating dense urban forests in constrained locations, in a recent edition of “Mann ki Baat.” He gave explanations of this Japanese method and related the inspiring tale of Raafi Ramnath, a Keralan teacher who used the Miyawaki system to successfully turn a desolate area into Vidyavanam, a thriving miniature forest.
Relevance
GS Paper 3 – Environment and Ecology – Urban Forestry
Mains Question
Describe the significance of converting bare areas into small woods using the Miyawaki planter method. How does it support soil fertility and biodiversity preservation? (150 Words)
Overview of the Miyawaki Plantation Method
The Miyawaki method, which was developed by the Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki, emphasises the planting of two to four different native tree species on each square metre of ground. This method, which was created in the 1970s, aims to cover small plots of ground in a thick layer of greenery. This process results in self-sustaining trees that take three years to grow to their full height. Additionally, the native plants employed in Miyawaki forests are low-maintenance and demand little care in terms of watering and fertilising.
Importance:
The dense green cover created by local trees using the Miyawaki technique is essential for absorbing dust and controlling the local surface temperatures. These woods also increase soil fertility and encourage the development of new forms of biodiversity. In the forests of Miyawaki, common indigenous plants like Anjan, Amala, Bel, Arjun, and Gunj are frequently used.
Miyawaki Forest Method in Mumbai:
In space-constrained areas like Mumbai, the Miyawaki Plantation Method has gained appeal as a strategy to restore green cover. The Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has planted Miyawaki woods in a number of vacant city lots in an effort to prevent global warming, lessen pollution, and increase the amount of greenery. In Mumbai, 64 Miyawaki forests have so far been successfully planted.
Conclusion
Even in urban environments with limited land availability, the Miyawaki plantation method offers a wonderful strategy for converting bare spaces into miniature trees. It works well to prevent climate change and improve the general environmental health of an area because it can provide thick green cover, encourage biodiversity, and increase soil fertility. Miyawaki forests have been successfully implemented by both private citizens like Raafi Ramnath and governmental organisations like the BMC in Mumbai, demonstrating the potential for this strategy to be widely used throughout the nation.
