Miyawaki method: Microforests are cheap and effective

In last Sunday's paper, I read the New Jersey article from NYT's 50 States, 50 Fixes series. It discusses a successful microforest planted and maintained by Ground Work's Elizabeth chapter. 

It’s exactly what it sounds like: a miniature forest, packed with more than 260 native plants

These are also known as Miyakawi forest, named after the inventor of the native-plant pocket forest. 

A few choice quotes below:

Within five years, “you’ll get the same oxygen production and carbon sequestration that a forest that’s 50 years or older is producing,” Mr. Evangelista said. “So you can make a huge impact quickly.”

Thermal drone images show that the microforests can be 4 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than mature trees, and 50 degrees cooler than the asphalt in adjacent parking lots, which can reach 132 degrees in the summer.

Because the forests start with small seedlings and require little maintenance after the first few years, he said, microforests are one of the cheapest options for boosting nature and biodiversity in cities.

This was all brand new to me, and seems exciting! The biggest hurdle is preparing the soil, which can be expensive depending on the land you're using. I would love to see these in Indiana. Maybe the Indiana Forest Alliance would be excited to partner on this.