The 45-day Maha Kumbh festival ended on February 26, with Prayagraj seeing a footfall of over 66 crore people according to government data. As part of beautification and cleanliness initiatives, the Uttar Pradesh government employed the Miyawaki technique – an afforestation method originating in Japan for creating “oxygen banks” and repopulating forests in urban areas. According to a Ministry of Culture press release, the Prayagraj administration covered 56,000 square meters of land across the city through the technique. The method has previously been used in Mumbai and Chennai, and around the world, but also drawn some criticism. Here is what to know. What is the Miyawaki technique? Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki devised the Miyawaki technique in the 1970s, aimed at restoring the native forests in Japan that deteriorated due to urban development over time. He drew inspiration from Japan’s age-old sacred shrine forests (“Chinju no Mori”), which were traditionally developed around Shinto shrines. He observed how the forests had multiple indigenous varieties of trees, seemingly layered together. Focusing on native plants, Miyawaki developed a unique afforestation method to create small, dense pockets of forests, mirroring the natural ecosystem of any region. How does the Miyawaki technique work? The Miyawaki technique involves planting a large number of native plants and saplings in a small area to create an ecosystem which mimics a forest. The soil structure and quality must match the conditions of the natural environment of those plants and be amenable to the local climate. The saplings or seeds are planted at a high density, usually 3-5 plants per square meter, for achieving rapid growth. The seeds of multiple varieties are planted randomly and not in neat rows to mimic a forest. Because the plants are so close together, they shoot up quickly, competing for sunlight. Thus, they grow to their full length within three years, compared to the much longer periods natural forests take. What are the pros and cons of Miyawaki forests? Since its introduction, the Miyawaki method has been used primarily in urban areas as it allows for growing many plants in limited spaces. Another advantage is that the plants are mostly self-sustaining after the initial period and don’t require regular maintenance like manuring and watering. The dense, green cover of indigenous trees can play a key role in absorbing carbon emissions in the area where the forest has been set up. In Prayagraj, trees of mango, mahua, neem, peepal, tamarind, arjuna, teak, tulsi, amla, and ber have been planted, according to the press release. The plants also help in regulating local temperature through transpiration and provide shade. Increasing concretisation and construction activities in urban areas have often contributed to a higher prevalent temperature compared to the outlying areas – what is known as the “heat island” effect. Miyawaki forests can help counter this. The method has become popular globally, with the effects of climate change and global warming increasingly impacting humans. However, there are some drawbacks. It can require a significant investment early on, and some manpower is also needed to ensure the plants’ survival in a limited space. Conservationists have also cautioned that Miyawaki forests cannot be billed as the one-stop solution to the systemic problems plaguing the planet, such as deforestation and the rapid depletion of natural resources. Even in cities, only planting “mini-forests” without changing current urban planning methods, resource utilisation, and waste disposal will likely have limited benefits.
