This urban forest becomes self-sufficient in three years

A Japanese method of planting fast-growing native forests is spreading worldwide. First introduced in the 1970s, Miyawaki forests are dense, multi-layered plantations that aim to rapidly re-create the old growth forest of a given area. These forests not only serve as an engine for carbon sequestration and cooling, but also promote biodiversity by supporting local insects, which are crucial to the ecosystem. What is more, Miyawaki forests are designed to become self-sufficient two to three years after planting.

Hundreds of Miyawaki forests have been created around the world in recent years, and Massachusetts saw its first two Miyawaki forests take root in 2021 and 2022. The forests, planted by more than 100 local residents, are a way to educate and engage the community on ecological restoration, says Maya Dutta, the project manager for the creation of the two forests. A software developer-turned-environmental activist, Maya used to live in fear and avoidance of environmental issues. But working on projects like the Miyawaki forests, she says, offers her a sense of "grounded hope."

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