Interview of Nicolas de Brabandère, from Urban Forests, main contributor of Miyawaki mini-forests in Europe

Interview of Nicolas de Brabandère, from Urban Forests, main contributor of Miyawaki mini-forests in Europe

Interview of Nicolas de Brabandère, from Urban Forests, main contributor of Miyawaki mini-forests in Europe

Nicolas de Brabandère, founder of the company Urban Forests, who plants Miyawaki mini forests

Nicolas de Brabandère planted his first Miyawaki forest in 2016, in Belgium. He creates projects of restoration of ecosystems with the aim to meet new people and to work with the living world. By the beginning of 2023, Nicolas and his team have already planted over 118,000 trees inside micro forests! 

I met him in his own house for an interview. In the first part, he explains his experience with the Miyawaki method and in the second part he gives his own advices for future actions on nature restoration.

A girl walking inside a Miyawaki mini forest near a school

– JB from Restore Forest

Thank you Nicolas for accepting this interview on the Miyawaki mini forests. Let’s start with the first question: when you are at a party, how in a few words do you describe who you are and what you do?

 

– Nicolas from Urban Forests

I say I plant trees and I do it in a special way. More than just planting trees, I create micro-forests, I create small ecosystems, I work with life systems. I am passionate about trying to understand the technology of living systems.

With my team, we plant micro forests in places where people live, work and do activities. The idea is to create high-performance ecosystems, which grow fast with a quick and visible impact on biodiversity and on the landscape.

A plantation event of a Miyawaki mini forest from Urban Forests with a volunteer holding a tree in her hand

– JB

How did you discover this Miyawaki method of mini forests and how have you applied it over the years?

– Nicolas

I have always been fascinated by the functioning of ecosystems and by forests in particular. I studied biology. I was most interested in nature restoration. How to restore environments that have been degraded? At the time, I was only offered opportunities in research. I didn’t particularly want to do pure research. I then became interested in working with NGOs. But I did not find work. Something did not click for me. I was looking to work on wild forests, and to understand how to repair ecosystems. I was also looking for an entrepreneurial dimension, to become self-sufficient money wise, to be part of the regular economy.

Then out of the blue, I came across the famous TED Talk from Shubhendu Sharma on Miyawaki forests. I was fascinated. I really had the impression that all the pieces of my own puzzle came together: the forest, repairing degraded environments, the entrepreneurial dimension. So I contacted Shubhendu who kindly invited me to India to join his team. I spent a month there and I learned the Miyawaki method on the ground. On my return to Belgium, I had to adapt what I had learned to the European context.

Several volunteers planting trees inside a Miyawaki forest during a plantation event organized by Urban Forests

– JB

As a result, you created Urban Forests (Urban Forests website) which has since contributed to mini forests. How many have you planted and how has Urban Forests developed?

– Nicolas

Precisely, I made a assessment before you came. I am actually pleasantly surprised! Urban Forests started in 2016 and we have made 81 projects so far. We planted over 118,000 trees on the total surface of 4 hectares. I did not expect at all that the accumulation of these small micro forests would come to reach a total surface of 41,063 m²!

We have a high percentage of success: the growth is good and most forests are truly beautiful. Only a couple are failures and a few more are a little disappointing. Sometimes the forests are not growing well because of droughts, lack of maintenance or some mistakes we did in the preparation. We have nevertheless learned a lot of things and improved a lot our know-how over time.

 

It was complicated to do the first project. I like to say that it took me three years to do ten projects. Then it took me three months to make ten new projects and now I manage to make ten projects in one month. It’s really unbelievable. The interest for micro forests is there.

 

Now what’s also nice is to see that our influence has inspired many other people to do just the same. For example, I sometimes do on the ground training on the Miyawaki method with a real forest created at the end. It’s not only the theory but also getting our hands dirty and planting trees together. And I see people carrying on and creating more micro forests on their own in their own localities. It’s really nice to see the movement growing.

 

The first project was the most difficult to do. I did not have enough belief I could do it on my own at first. So I talk about it with people in forestry. I thought they were going to be the most receptive. But they were not. They listened to me kindly but they did not like the idea of creating forests for their own sake. They life work is to produce wood for sawmills, for the industry, and so on with a long tradition of their own. So the Miyawaki method to them was more like a fancy scheme for the hipsters if I may say!  The Miyawaki method had no use to them. So they listened to me from a distance and despite my repeated requests, I couldn’t get anywhere with them. At some point, I realized that I had to manage to do it on my own. As I sometimes say to people who want to get started: learn as much as you can and go for it, learn by doing!

 

The first forest I made in 2016 in Belgium was on public land, between a farm and a road. It was quite impressive to do this first project. It’s then I realized a few days before planting that there were so many trees to plant and I could not do it on my own. I had to find people to help me. That’s when I thought of asking local schools to invite them in. I also contacted the local press to spread the word. The planting event was a success from the very first project. Even journalists were there. That gave me lots of confidence. Luckily I found out I was not just tripping on my own about reviving natural ecosystems, but in fact, I was not alone. People are interested. It actually sparks the enthusiasm of many!

 

It’s quite amazing because I’ve never met anyone who does not show any interest at all in creating micro forests in the community. Everyone is receptive and that is very encouraging. It looks like the idea meet a vital need.

A Miyawaki forest planted by Urban Forests near a school

 

– JB

Then usually finding land and money for the project is the biggest challenge. So what’s your advice for creators of mini-forests?

– Nicolas

Finding land for creating micro-forests is not easy, but at the same time there is a lot of potential in so many places. The main challenge is to convince the land owner to make his land available for it.

 

My advice to anyone wanting to create a Miyawaki forests is first to learn and understand the Miyawaki method. You really need to understand the aim, the technic, the objectives, how it works, step by step and to turn all of that into your own story. You have to make a link to yourself and make it a story that is convincing for others. It’s not just about planting trees. It’s your personal story, it’s what brought you to do it. What are your motivations?  Why do you think it is important? Why is it worth the effort? Why would people like it? Who are these people? Once you have some answers, once you realize you have started your own path, only then you can looking for land and convince people to join you with such a project. It will become easier.

 

Maybe you should start at home, just like I did, on lands that belong to your family, to friends. Make it simple. Start small. You will learn a lot by doing and seeing it grow. Then you can do more with some real earned confidence. I invite everyone to start like that.

 

Then check some opportunities with the local schools, meet your municipalities, share your ideas with local groups, with friends. Talk with your heart, make a good story, emotion is more powerful than lecturing about the technic. Then with a bit of luck, you might find just the perfect plot of land to do another micro forest. You really have to communicate a good story that will touch people. Do not focus on finding the funds at first.

 

If people don’t buy it, don’t insist. I had this experience, I insisted, it doesn’t work. If people aren’t receptive, so be it, look elsewhere. In general, the projects that work best happen rather smoothly, one step after another. If you stress too much, in general, it probably won’t happen. Obviously there are obstacles along the way, but you should fairly find your way over each one. Otherwise, look elsewhere.

 

So, by getting your hands dirty. Documenting what you do is also important to show people what you have done. “See what it looks like”.

 

There are different sources of funding. You can do it yourself and use your own funds. It’s a great way to learn, see what it takes. Sometimes a municipality might fund a project, but this is not very common. You can also do a crowdfunding. This option is time consuming, but it works very well. You need to find a platform, do the narrative, perhaps a video also, then you have to go out for it, it’s not going to happen by itself. Sometimes, you have a stroke of luck, a good meeting, someone loves the projects and bring all the means for it.

 

My experience finding subsidies is not good, I don’t rely on subsidies. The Miyawaki method is new and does not fill the criteria easily. Often when there are grants, the eligibility criteria are very specific. you can’t always fit into the boxes. Sometimes it takes so long to get a response that it’s very frustrating. Especially if it’s negative after waiting all this time. Subsidies work better for associations than for individuals.

 

It’s important to be independent if you can. Often planting trees is perceived as being non-profit, as being “nice to do”. But I want to say that planting trees must be an activity in its own right, it must fit into the real economy, it must be like any other activity, create jobs. When you make a house, you decorate it, you paint, you must comply with safety regulations. Unfortunately, far too often, gardens and the outdoor spaces are neglected with little budget put in, even though the outdoor surface is much larger than the hard infrastructure. We spend a lot of time outside and it feels good to have a pleasant environment. The current situation in terms of climate warming and biodiversity loss should be wake up calls. It’s important that creating micro forests and regenerating ecosystems start generating revenues for entrepreneurs if we want to have a real impact. It’s important to earn a living with it. If you manage to create jobs and become independent, if you can generate revenues for others as well, you create an economy around you and it becomes much more impactful. The goal is not to have nice ideas only, but to bring a transition, a new economic model with new positive elements. Because if we can’t create jobs and be self-sufficient by planting a micro-forest, it will always remain marginal. It has to develop. We must repair our environment and our nature. We need to find a better balance with the living world.

 

Of course micro-forests bring ecosystem services, like soil regeneration, biodiversity boost, better air quality, public health, etc. But it is important that behind these sometimes complicated concepts of ecosystem services, we convey easy to grasp benefits to people. Biodiversity for example is the pleasure of hearing birds sing in your garden, of having a pleasant green environment, seeing how plants grow, how things interact in your garden, how it improves your local environment. It is the pleasure of seeing a lizard pass by, a butterfly flying around, a mushroom come out in autumn, fruits to pick with your family, frogs in a pond… That’s biodiversity. It brings joy and fun. It feels good. You gain better air quality, less noise pollution, you can balance ugly elements with authentic greeneries. So really, beyond complicated words like “valuation of ecosystem services”, we have to find benefits that speak directly to people with simple words. I think that by speaking with emotion, things stay. If it’s purely intellectual or conceptual, the message tends to fly more quickly.

A girl holdin a young tree with soil during a plantation event of Miyawaki forest organized by Urban Forests

– JB

In a more technical way in the Miyawaki method, what do you think is the most important step?

– Nicolas

For me, there are two very important steps. First there is the preparation of the soil and that is very important. Our first project worked very well. Then, I experienced a couple failures and at one point I asked myself: “Why is it not working this time? What is happening?”. At first I thought it works just easily. But then I understood that the Miyawaki method is more complicated than it seems. The soil is very important. First I have to understand how a soil works, what it takes to regenerate it when it is degraded. How do you bring back a soil to its optimal conditions for trees so that they are healthy, strong with good growth. You have to think about keeping moisture in the soil, to boost the biology in the soil so that roots find all that they need. So understanding the soil is the first step. How do you prepare good soil? What sorts of amendments to you need to add? How to keep it 100% organic?

 

Second is tree species selection. It is not a matter of making a random list of species with as many species as possible. That’s not the Miyawaki method at all. The Miyawaki method is to bring back a piece of the primordial forest where you are. This is the forest as it once was, before human disturbances. It is to recreate the original forest. For that, we have tools . There are scientists who have done a lot of research on the subject. In Europe, we are spoiled. We are able to know what the ideal forest really looks like, anywhere on a map, depending on the soil and the climate. There are also species associations. Species do not arrive there by chance. Of course, there is some randomness but we observe that most of the time forests grow with a certain set of species growing in association. This is called phytosociology. It is the assemblage of species that like to be together. There are species that are more numerous than others. There are ratios between species and therefore a list of species is not random at all. You must only choose native species, native to the place where you are, a community of species which is coherent, which is authentic, in balance. Creating a native forest of natives trees is the essence of the Miyawaki method.

 

That’s it for the technical part. But what we often forget is that the Miyawaki method goes far beyond technique. Technique is one dimension, but the Miyawaki method is about being together. Creating Miyawaki forests bring people together. For Professor Akira Miyawaki, the forest heals the earth, the planet  and  humans. The Miyawaki plantation brings us together. It has become a rare thing. We’re so busy with our own occupations we forget how good it feels to be together. Well, this is an opportunity to get together around a common project. It’s good to see people smile, to see people in a good mood, working at once for the common good. People experience hope, they learn about forest ecology, they put their hands in the ground, they talk to each other and have fun. They learn about living systems.

Two friends walking on a pathway inside a Miyawaki mini forest planted by Urban Forests

– JB

On the project management side, what is your best feedback for getting the community on board in a mini forest?

– Nicolas

At first, you have to focus on finding people who are motivated by the project, with you, and finding land. That is the most important. Funding comes second. In general from my own experience, when you have found a plot of land and a group that is motivated, you always find the funding. Learn about the methodology, understand the why, make your own story with good sense. Only then you are convincing enough so you can share your enthusiasm with others.

School kids planting trees during a plantation event of a Miyawaki mini forest organized by Urban Forests

– JB

What part do you like the most about Miyawaki mini forest projects?

– Nicolas

It’s definitely meeting new people! Personally, meeting people is my fuel, it’s what makes me vibrate the most. Meeting people of different backgrounds. Talking to them, connecting to them, Establishing a dialogue  that enriches us both. Sometimes, that’s where I’m also the most disappointed… Even if we can make a forest at the end, I’m only really fulfilled if there is a good human relation that enriches us all. If that human relations does not work, I may be disappointed, or even give up. The heart of creating Miyawaki forests is to come together and inspire each other. It’s important we connect to the earth, that we understand we do something positive together that it will stay, that it’s going to please the people around, that it’s going to transform the neighborhood. That’s the most important thing.

Birds in a nest among trees in a Miyawaki mini forest planted by Urban Forests

– JB

What is your secret mission, your real purpose behind planting forests?

– Nicolas

It’s that one day, we associate a Miyawaki forest with every building, with every road. My wish is that we enter into a sane relationship with the natural world.  At the moment, there is a world culture which is really to impose humanity on the planet, to impose our will and our knowledge. It would be much more interesting and much more exciting to enter into symbiosis or into relationship with the living world all around us. It’s fair. We need to work, to make buildings, factories, activities, etc. But we can do it much better by entering a balanced relationship with all life forms. It is for example, around a building, to preserve a living ecosystem which will balance the impact of our activities. It is to create places where we live that preserve nature with authentic functioning ecosystems and biodiversity. If we reach that point, we won’t need national parks anymore because life will be all around us. That doesn’t seem like a utopia to me, but a compass for a modern society.

 

Put simply, we can start with our own garden, We can evolve from creating lawns or hedges with single species, which are very poor in terms of species present and positive impact on the environment, to creating gardens lush with life and sensory experiences, habitat for biodiversity.  For example, if you mow your lawn all the time, there are no flowers. So how can insects feed on nectar? How do plants produce with no seeds left? So start by letting the flowers grow, it will attract biodiversity. Imagine a bird: how will it find its food? Will it be able to hide, to feel safe? Will it be able to make its nest in your garden? You see, it’s really creating these interconnections with land and yourself. You don’t need to be an expert, a scholar, it’s common sense. It is simply a question of connecting to life, to enter into a genuine relationship, so that we all find our place. It brings joy.

 

Associations do a remarkable job: they open our eyes, they allow us to realize the situation, they give us the means to improve the  situation with solutions. Scientists warn us, bring knowledge, they are able to make predictions that are often correct. The artists also help with documentaries which are magnificent. We are shown that the living world is beautiful, we can see how children respond to that, the good that it does. Every one of us go through difficult time. I hope we all experience the good nature does to us in these difficult times. We realize that nature has a way of really doing us good, of healing us, of calming us down, of putting things in perspective, to make situations less dramatic, more welcoming, more positive, more optimistic. That’s what I’m trying to bring with Miyawaki forests, to create the experience when  people say to themselves: “That’s great, we need more, we have to do things differently! “.

 

These are not big ideas that are impossible to implement because it’s so complicated. Everyone can plant trees, improve your garden. In fact, all these actions together snowball. By entering into actions, we change the mindset and I hope that one day, any entrepreneur, any economist will think about nature, that it will not be something you care about on weekends or holidays in marvelous countries, but that everyone will include nature in every decisions and actions they do.

An insect walking on a leak of a tree inside a Miyawaki mini forest planted by Urban Forests

– JB

And in a year, if I come back with a bottle of champagne, what will we be celebrating? What is the next big objective challenge for you?

– Nicolas

We will celebrate the fact that more and more natural environments are being restored. We will go beyond the Miyawaki forests, we will see beautiful gardens, lush landscapes filled with life. We will realize that we brought back water where there was no more, that birds have come back. We will feel good about ourselves, optimistic, serene and positively inspired. We will celebrate the return of life.

 
A kid with a hoodie walking inside a Miyawaki mini forest planted by Urban Forests

– JB

I cannot wait to be there! What three resources, films or books have been helpful to you on your nature restoration journey?

– Nicolas

First, I think hiking was important: moving, walking in nature, observing things. I learned a lot by observing, by asking questions, by realizing the impact nature has on ourselves.

 

For books, there is so much to read and discover! I think that’s a little bit for everyone to look for. There is a well-known book “The Hidden Life of Trees” for example, and there are so many others. Perhaps also books to discover how the first indigenous tribes used to live. First nations for most of them live in a more balanced relationship with nature. These peoples who have not necessarily created great technological civilizations as we mean it. However, we can learn a lot from them, and perhaps find our way back down to earth, with our feet firmly on the ground, to anchor ourselves, to become true earthlings.

 

You can also work on yourself, on the inside.  Dig a little bit into your own and be honest with yourself. What makes you feel good? Why are you looking elsewhere? Why do you spend so much time outside of you? The idea is to listen more to yourself, to your health, to your emotions, to what makes you feel good and to cultivate it more and more.

A father and his daughter at the entrance gate of a Miyawaki mini forest planted by Urban Forests

– JB

Who would be the next person you would recommend me to meet to inspire me on mini forests or even more broadly on nature conservation?

– Nicolas

To follow up on this work you are doing on the Miyawaki forests, it would be interesting you meet Roseline Desgroux from “Alvéoles en ville”. She works with companies on creating Miyawaki forests, not just one random forest, but to make it ambitious with a network of Miyawaki forests in many places for a real impact. Then there are always incredible characters: Francis Hallé, the botanist or Sebastiao Salgado, the photographer. Obviously also, there are Jim and Stéphanie in Nantes, they created Mini Big Forest. I also like the collective “Micro Forêt – Toulouse en transition”. I think it’s a really nice group who do great projects with good spirit.

Rays of sunlight through the leaves of trees inside a Miyawaki mini forest planted by Urban Forests

– JB

Last question already, if you had a huge billboard with a message for everyone to see, what message would you write?

– Nicolas

Maybe instead of a billboard, I’d put a tree… But if I had a message to convey, I like to say in a humorous way: “If in doubt, if you’re not sure what to do, plant a tree! You’re sure you are not doing any mistake.”

Why soil preparation is so important for your plantation?

Why soil preparation is so important for your plantation?

Why soil preparation is so important for your plantation?

Soil is the base for all plants and trees. It is also the home of a rich and secret underground life.

So we need to take care of it. Here are the main two reasons why trees need a healthy soil:

– to grow roots easily

– to be able to thrive in good conditions.

In this blog post, we will share what are the key elements to prepare a good soil for your Miyawaki mini-forest.

A member of a Amazon tribe holding seeds

The insight of Terra Preta

 

“Terra Preta” is a black dark soil from the Amazonian forest. It is extremely fertile and was developed by native tribes. It is usually surrounded by infertile soils. It shows that this healthy soil is the fruit of human activity.
It is believed to have been developed between -2800 and 500. By civilizations before Christopher Columbus.
The analysis shows remarkable content of:
– charcoal
– organic material
– nutrients
– pottery parts
It has a high carbon content and a high activity of microorganisms. It is a gold resource due to its incredible fertility.
Apparently the native tribes cleared some patches of land there by burning some parts of the forest. And then use this land as a dumpyard, putting all their organic waste on that specific spot.
It is a source of inspiration for us in the preparation of the soil of our Miyawaki mini-forests but with different means :).
The goal is to get a dark, healthy soil like this for our trees to grow well.
A photo of a healthy soil, rich in organic added materials

What makes a good soil?

 

To grow plants in a healthy way, you need a dark, smooth, loose soil.

The good indicator is the dark topsoil that can be found in a primary forest: humus.

A good soil has:

– a high content of organic material, to support soil activity

– a high porosity (high percentage of void), it is not compact and allows air to circulate

– a good capacity to retain water, to keep moisture and avoid erosion or water runoff.

With these basics set in place, you may get an incredible soil life with microorganisms, fungi and hard-working earthworms! As explained in a next part, earthworms will provide a positive feedback loop thanks to their galleries, making your soil airy. 

In terms of percentage organic material, the color of your soil is a good indicator. To make it simple: the darker your soil is, the better it is! 

All of this is needed for our plants to grow well.

an aerial photo of a forest showing a high density of trees

C, N, P, K ? What is that?

 

These are main elements that you need in your soil to get a healthy growth of your plants.

– C is Carbon: nourishes the life of the soil, as a source of energy.

– N is Nitrogen: makes plants grow, in particular with healthy leaves.

– P is Phosphorus: promotes the development of the root system and regulates flowering and fruit processes.

– K is Potassium: plays a role in the regulation of the vital functions for strong plants.

But, in a 80/20 Pareto effort, if there is only 1 thing to focus on, it is the Carbon! First we should focus on charging our soil with organic matter to increase the content of Carbon.

Carbon is good for us!
When it’s in the ground, not in the air…
As CO2 in the air, we know it has a dramatic effect on climate change. So we need to pay more attention to the sources. But also to the potential sinks of carbon to mitigate it.
Soil is the second largest carbon sink in the world, just after the ocean. Plants, trees, forests and other living organisms capture carbon. Then they transfer it to the soil.
Now here comes the good part!
Carbon is the building block of all known life forms. It is used as an energy source by organisms involved in the decomposition and mineralization of organic matter.
Carbon is a central element of soil fertility.
So it could clearly be a win-win deal.
By restoring more vegetation where possible, we could balance the carbon cycle and:
1) remove more carbon from the atmosphere

2) recreate healthy soils and secure local food chains

The tree/soil system seems to be very effective in this effort. From now on we need to reduce our carbon burn rate. And think how much more useful carbon is to enrich our soil.
So let’s keep the carbon in the ground and not in the air, for a healthy future!

A healthy soil under a mulch layer inside a Miyawaki mini forest

How to identify your type of soil?

 

It is important to know the texture of your soil.

I have already explained it in another blog post here: Step 2 – Prepare the Soil .

Soil is made from 3 major components. There is a simple way, with your hand, to define the main element:

– if it is crunhy, it is sand
– if it is soft, it is silt
– if it sticks, with the possibility to mark a fingerprint in it, it is clay.

Based on that, you will know the feature of your soil and define what to add in your soil for water retention and perforation of the roots.

We also add humic amendments such as dried manure, mulch or raw plant residues to increase the organic matter content to feed our soil life. We share it with fauna and micro-organisms for their mineralisation work.
On our site inspection, this is always the big question: have we succeeded in reproducing Nature’s healthy soil?
And when the answer is YES, you can feel it when you step on it. It is a soft and humid ground.
Like you might experience in a jungle.
Under the thick layer of mulch, you discover a dark topsoil, full of life.
The organic materials brought back the necessary carbon.
Earthworms are quite active.
The micro-organisms do their work of mineralization.
The nutrients are there.
Everything is in place for our trees to grow well.
JB from Restore Forest showing an earthworm from a healthy soil in a Miyawaki mini forest

Earthworms, your silent ally for a healthy soil

 

They will work for you for free, with no complaints.
They will contribute to your own personal goals.
They won’t ask for any salary increase from HR.
I just speak about earthworms in your plantation!
The presence of earthworms is one of the good indicators of a healthy and regenerative soil.
As in any effective collaboration, it is a win-win contract.
We add cow dung to the soil. Providing organic matter and carbon to our Miyawaki forest.
Earthworms from all over the neighborhood are attracted.
Then the earthworms do their magic work.
Mix the soil layers and create tunnels. With air, water and soft soil for the roots of our trees.
Earthworms are one of the Key Success Factors.
Like you, they are part of the ecosystem. Each member will make a valuable contribution to work together and rewild our future.

Earthworms will mix the layers of soil for you. They will make the connection between the different layers of soil. Travelling and working between the underground deep layers towards the topsoil, and vice-versa.

If your piece of land has an army of earthworms, you will not have even to mix the organic matter. If you let long enough to the earthworms, they will do the work for you. With no tillage or mechanical work, you won’t have to burry your organic matter. It will save you time and money and preserve the microbiology of the soil.

Afterwards, earthworms will also do the work of mineralisation. They will transforms organic matter into water, mineral salts (N, P, K) and CO2, useful for the plants growth.

Conclusion

From now on, you have all the basics you need to prepare your soil for your plantation.

So go for it!

You will learn by doing and discover that if you set the right conditions with your soil, Nature will help you to do the remaining work.

4 Lessons we can learn from Nature for Miyawaki mini forests

4 Lessons we can learn from Nature for Miyawaki mini forests

4 Lessons we can learn from Nature for Miyawaki mini forests

We’ve all seen those deforestation videos…

Mainly in the Amazon. It’s heartbreaking to see bulldozers destroying the Green Lung of the planet.

Compared to the previous century, the rate of deforestation is slowing down. But it still exists!

Attitudes are also changing. We are now aware of climate change and its impacts on our daily lives. Efforts are currently being made for reforestation. I studied the subject for a few years to do my part in the fight against climate change.

There are different ways to take part in the reforestation effort:

– make a donation to an Non-governmental organization (NGO)

– select companies that will devote part of the money you give them to plant trees for you (worst case: “Buy a plane ticket and we will plant a tree for you to compensate”…)

For me, the mind-blowing discovery was when I found the work of Doctor Akira Miyawaki. He first studied Nature before developing a new planting technique. He applied all his lessons learned on his reforestation projects. This took the local reforestation effort to a different higher level.

In this blog post, I will share all the major things I learned from my mentor, Dr. Akira Miyawaki. And why we should first learn from Nature before any action…

Doctor Akira Miyawaki holding a young tree during a reforestation event

Who is Dr Akira Miyawaki?

 

Akira Miyawaki was born in Japan in 1928. He graduated in biology and became a botanist inspired by the potential of Nature.

It all started with something he noticed. The forests around Japanese temples were quite different from others he went to. Around these sacred temples, no human being is allowed to touch Nature. Thus, trees and forests can thrive naturally, without human intervention.

It was his first premonition. Then he studied how Nature developed forests in its own way. Compared to man-made forests, he wanted to understand why natural forests were much:

– denser

– richer

– more resilient.

Dr. Akira Miyawaki has spent his entire life studying local environments. The main goal was to find out which characteristics were most suitable for his reforestation projects. He enriched the concept of “Potential Natural Vegetation”. The selection of indigenous species adapted to the local environment is a major step forward in boosting planted forests. He has applied it to more than 1,700 reforestation projects around the world, in different environments.

Here are the main lessons he discovered. From now on, we apply these principles in the Miyawaki method of reforestation.

an aerial photo of a forest showing a high density of trees

Lesson #1 – Close collaboration provides the best results

 

What is striking when you walk inside a natural forest or a jungle is the density of the trees. You can barely cross it sometimes.

As the opposite, in an artificial forest for the timber industry, you have 1 tree every 10 meters, planted in a line.

In a previous blog post (https://restoreforest.com/5-things-most-people-do-not-know-about-trees/), I explained why trees like to grow with high density.

We believe that trees will compete for light. This common saying comes from the lumber industry. With their approach, young trees need to grow fast and straight, under the sunlight. They’re like fast-growing teenagers on steroids! Only short-term growth. Then we cut them young to produce wood…

In the natural forests, we let them live a happy and quiet life. Each member of the forest has its place in the ecosystem. From the old tree to the young shoots, from the tree that loves sunlight to the species that prefer more shade.

With this high density, they also interconnect their roots underground. They share nutrients and information. Scientists call this underground network the “Wood Wide Web”!

This explains the higher growth rate of Miyawaki forests. Despite reduced sun exposure, there is a cooperative effort. In the end, they grow 10 times faster than conventional man-made forests. In the timber industry, trees are isolated. Here they work together, they collaborate and share for the common good.

Dr. Akira Miyawaki first studied local environments on his more than 1,700 reforestation projects around the world. The aim was to adapt to the local needs. He planted from 2 trees/m² up to 7 trees/m² (mangrove projects). On our side, for our projects in temperate forests, we plant 3 trees/m². And we can see how it is thriving compared to man-made forests!

A production of birch trees in straight lines for wood industry

Lesson #2 – Diversity is the key to build a resilient system

 

To simplify logistics and management, man creates forests most often in monoculture. It’s much easier to handle. You have a scale effect on costs because you only buy the same species of sapling. You only know one species. You can anticipate its growth to calculate your return on investment. You get an army of clone trees. It is mass production.

But what happens when a sudden change occurs in this clean environment? A new disease, an imported pest, more frequent droughts due to climate change…? How adaptable is this type of plantation to new hazards?

This type of monotonous forest has a low adaptive capacity. An example is what is happening in parts of Europe with spruces and bark beetles. The spruce has roots that remain in the upper level of the ground. Heat waves and successive droughts have weakened the spruces. Then, the bark beetles spot the weak trees and start digging into their trunks.

You can notice these attacks in the red/ginger-brown color of the treetops or with the dry needles. The bark beetle spreads quickly and easily from spruce to spruce. In the end, we can see large burnt hills of dead trees… The only solution is to cut down all these trees to limit the spread.

In natural forests, several dozen species are present. With a great mix of deciduous and evergreen species. This makes it a resilient forest, able to handle outside attacks. There is no domino effect like in a monoculture forest. Species side by side will be able to stop the attack. Stronger trees will share nutrients with weaker ones. Species with deeper roots will bring water to others. It is an anti-fragile system.

In our Miyawaki mini-forests, we plant 30 different species on the same parcel. This diversity brings robustness. Mixing species will also create multi-layered 3D forests. Trees do not grow at the same speed and do not have the same mature height. In our Miyawaki forests, we plant different species according to their 4 final heights:

– shrub layer

– sub-tree layer

– tree layer

– canopy layer

Dense multi-layered forest will be a shield against the burning sun and storm winds. The forest will keep moisture allowing all members to thrive and adapt.

A photo of a jungle with a chaos organization

Lesson #3 – Life is chaos, accept it and adapt

 

On monoculture forests, trees are planted:

– in rows

– with the same spacing between each other

– with clear paths for large machinery.

This type of control is more the domain of a factory than related to Nature.

In natural forests, fertilization is done by the wind or by wandering pollinators. Young trees begin life at the foot of the mother or tree or a few miles away. It is a total random disorder.

While walking through a natural forest, you noticed that there is no clear pattern. It’s all about chaos. In doing so, forests mix species and members in a disorganized way.

This tactic is best for protection from windstorms, powerful floods, or heavy snow. Any outside energy that attempts to attack the forest will be dissipated in turbulent flows. There will be no chain reaction with a domino effect over a long distance. In Japan, Miyawaki forests are even planted on the coast to mitigate the effects of tsunamis.

Some would say it is pure luck. That Nature doesn’t do this on purpose. Maybe. But this Chaos model is an optimized system. This approach has been effective throughout evolution and has been repeated over generations.

I’m sure we can learn from Nature about the structure of chaos when it comes to urban planning patterns. Some urban architects organize cities in geometric blocks. These cities are quite fragile during storms or floods.

This Nature management of chaos has been applied in the Miyawaki planting technique. For us, for example, we provide 3 saplings per square meter to the planter. Then it’s up to you and your creativity to plant it as you like in your square. This gives a plantation that has a non-linear layout and that is much closer to what Nature does.

A photo of a healthy soil, rich in organic added materials

Lesson #4 – You need a healthy base to thrive

 

To keep growing, you need good roots. This is true for trees but also for human beings 😊.

When you imagine a natural forest or even a jungle, you can easily feel a soft and smooth ground. In comparison, most urban lands have a compact soil. It has been compacted by years of human activity, rolling with heavy machinery. On this soil, it will be quite difficult and energy-consuming for trees to develop roots.

In the Miyawaki method, soil preparation is a cornerstone. We add different types of organic matter:

– perforator

– nourishment

– water retention

This generates a soft and healthy soil. We don’t need pesticides or chemical fertilizers. Nature brings all the organic enrichment, in a balanced ecosystem.

Good health of the soil is the basis of a thriving forest. For 2 years, you will weed twice a year in your Miyawaki forest. After that, your mini forest will be completely maintenance-free. Mulching with straw/hay will decay. The leaves will fall to the ground enriching it. It will generate high-quality humus.

On one of our very first Miyawaki forests, I was amazed by the quality of the soil. I was back on this site few years after the tree planting. I walked on this soft ground of the plantation. I dug with the shovel to check the soil and humus. It was like a chocolate cake! Dark, aerated and soft.

This healthy soil is a major contributor to the success of Miyawaki forests. This partly explains why the seedling survival rate is better with Miyawaki forests. It is around 90% in a Miyawaki forest compared to 65% in a conventional plantation.

Conclusion

Here are the 4 lessons that can be learned from Nature for reforestation:

Lesson #1 – Close collaboration  provides the best results

Lesson #2 – Diversity is the key to build a resilient system

Lesson #3 – Life is chaos, accept it and adapt

Lesson #4 – You need a healthy base to thrive

 

Nature and us, we live in two different time scales. We, we are interested in what we need to do the next day, and sometimes even the next minute to fill our lives. Trees can live for several centuries. Or even several thousand years for World Records!

Nature has had time to experiment over the long term. It has tested iteratively to find the best optimized ecosystem. We should make the most of Nature’s wisdom. Let’s apply it for our new organizations, structures or projects.

This is why the Miyawaki methodology of reforestation is so powerful. It begins by observing Nature and tries to imitate it. So let’s team up with Nature and rewild our future with Nature-inspired reforestation projects.

5 Things Most People do not know about Trees

5 Things Most People do not know about Trees

5 Things Most People do not know about Trees

In this blog post, you will discover 5 secrets about trees. This article is a short review of the book “The Hidden Life of Trees” by Peter Wohlleben. This international bestseller is a mind blowing masterpiece! Even if you’re not a tree lover, you’ll be amazed at the wonders revealed by Wohlleben.

During my extensive investigation in the Miyawaki mini-forests, Wohlleben was a game-changer in my vision of the forests. Many items were then used for our tree plantation and reforestation effort to provide better results. Are you ready for an exciting adventure in secret forests?

In a nutshell, the thesis of this book is: Trees are much smarter than you think. Not just simple pieces of wood. Trees are able to intensely experience their environment and to communicate and share in a social network.

Peter Wohlleben is a forest ranger. He spent decades managing a forest in Germany. He has field expertise supplemented by his investigations into scientific research. I highly recommend purchasing this book from an independent bookstore if you have more time. You will be enthusiastic about Wohlleben’s discoveries, novel ideas and fresh point of view. You will never see trees like before again. If you don’t have that much time, I’ve compiled the main points here for you in a short version. So let’s discover these 5 secrets!

Secret #1 – Trees communicate with each other

 

Over millions of years of evolution, trees have tested billions of new “technologies” and organizations. They know they have a better chance of survival living together, inside a community, inside a forest.

 

They need the scale effect to create a microclimate. The microclimate of a forest has dim light and high humidity. This provides cooler temperatures in the summer, as you may have experienced while hiking through a forest.

 

To secure this forest community, the trees need to grow together. A forest should avoid any gaps in its population or canopy. This disconnection would be dangerous in terms of stormy winds that could uproot trees or heat waves that could dry out the forest.

 

Bottom line: The trees applied the mantra “Alone, you go faster. Together, we go further”. Working in community with several nearby individuals, trees can create a resilient forest.

 

So to create a dense community, the trees communicate with each other. The intention is ultimately to warn of impending dangers.

 

We believe that communication is just one feature of the human or animal kingdom. But no, trees communicate! Not with sounds, but with scents. Trees emit scents to convey a message to the next tree.

 

Here is an incredible discovery. In the 1980s, research highlighted the community defense system of trees in the savannah. The giraffes there like to eat the leaves of the acacia trees. To protect themselves, the acacia trees pump toxic substances into their leaves to make the giraffes go away. This protection system is slow, it takes about an hour to trigger. So in the meantime the acacias are emitting a gas (ethylene in this case) to warn their tree buddies to get ready!

 

Other trees like elms or pines even have a smarter defense system. They identify by the saliva the insects eating their leaves. And then they produce scents that attract their predators, especially wasps.

 

The second powerful communication network is through the roots. Some studies have shown that underground roots extend more than twice the surface of the aerial leaf canopy. Trees produce electrical impulses to send messages to each other through the roots. As a visualization, you can imagine the Tree of Life in the movie Avatar, with visible light messages transmitted to the entire ecosystem through the roots.

 

Trees also work in cooperation with underground fungi: the mycelium. The mycelium could be thought of as the optic fiber Internet wires, spanning several miles. Scientists even call this communication network the “Wood Wide Web”! A lot of communication passing underground, invisible to our eyes.

 

Lesson learned: on our Miyawaki method for mini-forests, we want to reproduce this dense and connected indigenous forest. That’s why we prepare the soil to promote root and fungus development. This will result in a dense pack of resilient forests and long-lasting reforestation.

Secret #2 – Trees have their own Social network and can collaborate even with other species

 

We have been told that trees compete with each other, just as we do as humans. In fact, inside a forest, trees grow inside a larger community in a collaborative effort. We can even say that some trees form a family, with parents and children nearby.

 

It is commonly believed that trees fight for access to light. Of course, light is necessary for photosynthesis. But not all species need the same amount of light, and some younger trees need to grow at a slower rate to grow strong. Just imagine a Native Jungle where the density is high. Even quite difficult to see the sky with such a thick canopy. All trees, of different sizes, thrive there.

 

Peter Wohlleben says that “young” beeches can wait over 80 years in the shadow of their 200-year-old “mother”. Once their mother passes away, it’s time for them to flourish and rise.

 

Tree roots extend in all directions to:

– optimize nutrient uptake

– obtain stability in the ground

– connect with other trees through roots

This network of roots creates a tight and stable underground network.

 

Trees in regular cases grow straight. They develop their leaves and canopy in their own dedicated spot. When a family member dies inside the forest, it fills in the void and expands its canopy to prevent any holes for burning sun or stormy winds.

 

Trees also develop their social network, along with other species, to create a balanced ecosystem.

 

One of the most important interactions is between trees and fungi. They work with a win-win contract. They have a positive association underground. Mycelium can grow inside the fine roots of the tree. It increases the useful surface of the roots and its ability to pump water and nutrients.

Mushrooms develop an impressive underground network. As seen previously, it is used to exchange a large number of nutrients and information. The trees repay them by supplying the fungi with sugars and carbohydrates.

 

Trees can be a good food source for many species. Parasites in particular, which the trees try to slow down by producing repellent substances. These pests can then be eaten by ants, ladybugs, bees, wasps or caterpillars. This generates a complete food chain in a balanced ecosystem.

 

Shrubs, shoots or even young saplings can be eaten by roe deers and stags. That’s why we protect our Miyawaki mini forests with fences when planted into the wild. Young trees are candy for deers!

 

We can therefore see that trees play a key role in maintaining biodiversity, to form a balanced ecosystem. Wohlleben mentions that on the top of a 600-year-old tree, 2,041 animals of 257 different species have been counted!

 

Lessons learned: this principle of collaboration between species is used in the Miyawaki method with the multi-layered forest. Various species of trees are planted together. They do not grow at the same rate and at the end of the climax evolution they will mature in 4 different layers: shrub, subtree, tree and canopy. The tight and stable underground network will provide a healthy soil for tree growth. And that’s the goal: to achieve a thriving Miyawaki forest that will become a haven for biodiversity.

Secret #3 – Trees optimize energy as a community and can share food

 

Let’s continue with a true story by Peter Wohlleben. In the forest he managed, he got used to see some stones covered with moss. One day, Wohlleben stopped to investigate. Uncovering the moss, he discovered that it was actually tree bark! Indeed, a hard stump from a fallen tree hundreds of years ago. With his pocket knife, Wohlleben scratched and discovered green material. Green is only related to chlorophyll. This stump was still alive! But without leaves for photosynthesis, the only explanation is that nearby trees were sharing nutrients with this mother tree, through the roots.

 

Once again, trees have understood that they are stronger together. Their goal is to build a dense community to achieve a resilient forest. For this, the trees help each other. The community helps the skinny saplings in need and even the sickest trees, as they can be useful to the group in the future.

 

Two examples are good to show that dense native forests are more productive.

 

Native beech forests are super crowded, with trunks tightly packed together. With such a pattern, it is difficult to move inside the forest. The wood production industry has therefore developed an alternative path. It manages forests with a lot of space between the trees for the reason of stimulating the growth of the tree but in fact mainly to be able to use large cutting machines. By doing so, you create a field of isolated trees, which lose community benefits, with a reduced lifespan.

 

The second example is the extreme case. I’m sure you’ve seen lone trees artificially planted around town, in big buckets or even in parking lots. These trees are lonely, constrained and clearly looking skinny. Not as healthy as a real forest tree.

 

A main element of energy consumption and optimization is reproduction.

Conifers produce a large amount of pollen each year, which is dispersed by the wind. But hardwoods produce acorns. Deer and wild boar eat these acorns because it is really rich for their development. The hardwoods have therefore developed a trick to prevent all their acorns from being eaten by a large population of deer and wild boar. They only produce acorns every three or five years. Animals experience starvation due to scarcity and this regulates the population. When the acorns return a few years later, there are fewer animals to eat them. A smart solution for a balanced ecosystem, isn’t it?

 

Finally, trees carefully optimize their energy: for growth, for the production of repellent substances and for flowering. When it is breeding time, they reduce the amount of leaves produced.

 

Lessons learned: inspired by indigenous forests, we plant 3 trees per square meter in our Miyawaki forests. It allows to create a dense sharing community as Nature does.

The second element is that Nature always finds the balance. So after 2 years of maintenance removing weeds, we no longer touch the forest, we let Nature do its work. As Dr Akira Miyawaki said of his forest: “The best management is the absence of management”.

Secret #4 – Forests have a capacity of adaptation and they are able to move!

 

In their forest environment, trees have to deal with perpetual changes.

 

First, they have to manage natural disasters such as:

– Drought

– Gale, tornado or storm

– Powerful rain or flood

– Heavy snow

For example, in the event of a lack of water, trees will reduce their consumption and develop a protective countermeasure by thickening the waxy layer of their leaves.

 

Trees learn from all of these unique experience events. Then they pass on this knowledge through genetic material to get better-fit children, with suitable characteristics on the roots, trunk, branches and leaves.

 

As always, trees take their time to grow and reproduce. Adaptation with generation iterations is therefore slow. Especially when the breeding cycle is every 5 years.

 

And this is the current problem of climate change. The changes are so rapid that the trees cannot keep up with the adaptations. This is the case with tree species like spruce that have been planted at low altitudes or in warmer climates. With the current increase in temperature and drought, they are vulnerable to pests such as bark beetles.

 

Secondly, forests are seeing the arrival of new species of trees, imported by man. Usually, these new species are imported because they grow faster than native species. This could become a danger to native species. However, when the ecosystem is resilient, stable and sufficiently mature, the new species will not take over.

 

Third, the forest has a great capacity to adapt to climatic conditions. With the great genetic variety and the way the seeds travel by wind or birds, the new generation can settle down a little further away with better local conditions. So it is certain that the Forest does not walk like in the Lord of the Rings. But they migrate slowly. This is what has been done to survive climatic variations and ice ages so far (but over a much longer period).

 

Beech forests are found from Sicily to southern Sweden. In the future, they will move North.

 

Lessons learned: in our Miyawaki tree plantations, we only select native tree species. The native species adapt best to local conditions. In the next phase, we are also studying species that are already suffering from the current rapid climate change.

Secret #5 – The forest can generate its own micro-climate and can also change the weather in remote places

 

A forest has significant positive impacts on two dimensions of the environment: soil and atmosphere.

 

The tree and the soil definitely work in synergy. Healthy soil allows trees to form a complex web of roots. Trees get the proper nutrients through the roots. In return, the roots of the tree provide a stable structure to the ground. It avoids erosion washout during heavy rains.

 

The forest is one of the best “tech” for CO2 capture. Thanks to the activity of the tree and then also of the soil. In its lifetime, a tree will act as a CO2 vacuum cleaner. When the tree dies, this stored carbon will be transferred to the soil. First, the worms will eat the trunk. The rain will continue to transfer into the ground. It will slowly decompose into humus. Small underground organisms will continue the work.

The forest floor is also a huge reservoir of water from all the rains. In all the humus and in the different soil layers, it can store a gigantic amount of water. This reservoir will be used by the roots of the tree in future periods and also for the complete water cycle.

On the other side, trees also help the soil as a thermal regulator. The tree canopy acts as a roof. It prevents the soil from drying out both due to the scorching sun and the airflow. The trees keep the air humidity and the temperature cool to avoid drought. Through evaporation with the leaves (the actual transpiration of the forest), the trees produce even air conditioning and cooler temperatures. This explains the micro-climate you can experience inside a forest in a hot summer.

And here is the wonderful advantage of trees on a larger scale: the transfer of rains to the continent! Clouds form over the seas and are pushed inland. When this rain hits the forest, then the tree with evapotranspiration will generate new clouds which will be pushed further towards the mainland.

The forest acts as a pit-stop or transfer point for the rains to move within the continents. That’s why we need forests from the seaside to the continent to avoid drafts inside the mainland! This water chain is vital and we need the forests to make it work.

 

Lessons learned: with the Miyawaki method, we take care of the soil first because it is the healthy base of our plantation. Particular attention is paid to microorganisms and earthworms. When planting on barren land or for a urban forest, this is crucial. Using only nature-based solutions, of course!

With this explanation from Wohlleben, we see the impact that the forest can have on CO2 capture, temperature and the water cycle. So let’s rewild our future with reforestation!

Conclusion

 

The book “The hidden life of trees” by Peter Wohlleben is a pleasure to read. Entertaining, with practical examples and great stories, it offers an impressive insight into the wonders of a forest.

For me, this has been a nice additional piece in my investigations into afforestation. It supported the Miyawaki method approach. Miyawaki first started studying natural ecosystems before doing any reforestation. So far, Man has used planting techniques adapted to the production of the timber industry. But I am convinced that for natural forest restoration, we can do so much better.

Nature has billions of years of experiences ahead of us. As we see with this book, trees are much smarter than we think. Mainly because they’ve tested billions of different ways to thrive, before us. So if we want to act in this time of rapid climate change, we must first study Nature. Bio-imitate it. Copy/paste what really works. So let’s take inspiration from Nature!

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