REAL WORLD EVENT DISCUSSIONS

Fast-growing mini-forests spring up in Europe to aid climate

POSTED BY: 1KIKI
UPDATED: Wednesday, October 28, 2020 21:06
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Friday, October 23, 2020 8:46 PM

1KIKI

Goodbye, kind world (George Monbiot) - In common with all those generations which have contemplated catastrophe, we appear to be incapable of understanding what confronts us.



Fast-growing mini-forests spring up in Europe to aid climate
Miyawaki forests are denser and said to be more biodiverse than other kinds of woods


A Miyawaki forest being planted on the outskirts of Paris, France. Photograph: Courtesy of Boomforest

Tiny, dense forests are springing up around Europe as part of a movement aimed at restoring biodiversity and fighting the climate crisis.

Often sited in schoolyards or alongside roads, the forests can be as small as a tennis court. They are based on the work of the Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki, who has planted more than 1,000 such forests in Japan, Malaysia and elsewhere.

Advocates for the method say the miniature forests grow 10 times faster and become 30 times denser and 100 times more biodiverse than those planted by conventional methods. This result is achieved by planting saplings close together, three per square metre, using native varieties adapted to local conditions. A wide variety of species – ideally 30 or more – are planted to recreate the layers of a natural forest.

Scientists say such ecosystems are key to meeting climate goals, estimating that natural forests can store 40 times more carbon than single-species plantations. The Miyawaki forests are designed to regenerate land in far less time than the 70-plus years it takes a forest to recover on its own.

“This is a great thing to do,” said Eric Dinerstein, a wildlife scientist who co-authored a recent paper calling for half of the Earth’s surface to be protected or managed for nature conservation to avoid catastrophic climate change. “So this could be another aspect for suburban and urban areas, to create wildlife corridors through contiguous ribbons of mini-forest.”

In 2017, researchers at Wageningen University in the Netherlands monitored newly planted mini-forests and concluded that they “increase the biodiversity compared to the nearby forest. Both the number of species groups and the number of individuals is generally higher than in the reference forests.”

The higher biodiversity is due partly to the forests’ young age and openness, explained Fabrice Ottburg, an animal ecologist who led the Wageningen study. This allows more sunlight to reach flowering plants that attract pollinators. Diversity is also boosted by planting multiple species, which “provide more variety in food and shelter for a higher diversity of animals like insects, snails, butterflies, amphibians, bugs, grasshoppers”, Ottburg said.

In the Netherlands, the conservation group IVN Nature Education has helped cities and households to plant 100 Miyawaki-style forests since 2015. It is on track to more than double that number by 2022 and is working on similar efforts in a dozen other countries. Assorted groups in Belgium and France have recently created at least 40 mini-forests.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jun/13/fast-growing-mini-
forests-spring-up-in-europe-to-aid-climate


(see link for complete story)




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Friday, October 23, 2020 9:11 PM

REAVERFAN


That's great.

Too bad our president would never do anything that's beneficial to the planet.



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Friday, October 23, 2020 10:48 PM

6IXSTRINGJACK


Yeah. Remember when Obama planted all of those forests?



Do Right, Be Right. :)

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Saturday, October 24, 2020 2:57 AM

SIGNYM

I believe in solving problems, not sharing them.


What a wonderful idea!

But, I don't quite know how they work. I'm confused by

Quote:

This result is achieved by planting saplings close together, three per square metre, using native varieties adapted to local conditions. ...The higher biodiversity is due partly to the forests’ young age and openness, explained Fabrice Ottburg, an animal ecologist who led the Wageningen study. This allows more sunlight to reach flowering plants that attract pollinators.
Dense forests aren't "open". So the only way I can think of to plant such a forest is to plant three saplings of different types in that three square meters... a tall tree, a medium-sized tree, and a shrub.

I'll go look it up.


-----------
Pity would be no more,
If we did not MAKE men poor - William Blake

#WEARAMASK

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Saturday, October 24, 2020 3:06 AM

SIGNYM

I believe in solving problems, not sharing them.


Quote:

Too bad our president would never do anything that's beneficial to the planet.
Why do you think this all depends on a President? Mayors, governors, land conservation groups like Tree People, Nature Conservancy and the Trust for Public Land, and [especially] the relevant transportation departments that maintain roadway right-of-ways all have the authority to start these forests, and Nature Conservancy has particular expertise in designing and maintaining preserves that are used by ranchers etc.

I was asked, in all seriousness, what kind of coating or barrier would absorb freeway pollution and resist graffiti, and I instantly said "vines, shrubs, and trees". The policy-makers thought I was kidding, but I wasn't. Too bad they didn't take me more seriously!

-----------
Pity would be no more,
If we did not MAKE men poor - William Blake

#WEARAMASK

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Saturday, October 24, 2020 3:10 AM

SIGNYM

I believe in solving problems, not sharing them.



Yep ...
Quote:

5. Miyawaki method cluster plantation

Cluster plantation has different tree species planted in close proximity- between 3 to 4 tree in 1 sq. m area



https://forestcreators.com/how-we-plant/

These are a few bullet points in a fairly detailed how-to-instruction set

Quote:


How to make a mini forest with Miyawaki method

... We should try to plant as many species as possible for biodiversity.

Make a database of all native species of your area. Identify its type (Evergreen, Deciduous or Perennial), advantages, maximum height and assign layer.
Check the native species saplings availability in the nursery, their age and sapling height. Ideal height is 60 to 80 centimeters.
Major species: Choose five different species to be the major forest species; these should be the species that you commonly find in your area. This will constitute 40-50 percent of number of trees in the forest.
Supporting species – other common species of the area will constitute 25-40 percent, and minor native species will make up the rest.

... Selecting trees for plantation: Place plants on the mound to create a multi-layered, natural forest. Try to group plants that grow into different layers – shrub, sub tree, tree and canopy – in each sqm. Try not to place two trees of the same kind next to each other; also, don’t follow a pattern while planting the trees. Try to maintain a distance of 60 cm between saplings. The goal is to have random, dense plantation of native tree species.


https://bengaluru.citizenmatters.in/how-to-make-mini-forest-miyawaki-m
ethod-34867


I see that many of the projects are in India.

-----------
Pity would be no more,
If we did not MAKE men poor - William Blake

#WEARAMASK

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Saturday, October 24, 2020 3:36 AM

6IXSTRINGJACK




Quote:

You gotta be honest, telling people that planting 20 million trees would be a 'big deal' when in reality it would offset ONLY the CO2 emissions of the USA by half a day..... is probably overselling it!


Still... It's better than not planting any trees.

Do Right, Be Right. :)

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Saturday, October 24, 2020 4:07 AM

SIGNYM

I believe in solving problems, not sharing them.


Twenty million trees is piffle. Two HUNDRED million trees is meaningful. Three hundred thirty three million trees is one tree per person.

Should be do-able.

In addition to managing our forests better, "somebody" (I forget who) suggested that we manage our highway rights-of-way to be conservation areas, that would allow species to migrate in response to climate change. Not only would that boost the #trees, it would help maintain biodiversity, which is essential for a robust environment.

-----------
Pity would be no more,
If we did not MAKE men poor - William Blake

#WEARAMASK

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Saturday, October 24, 2020 7:49 AM

CAPTAINCRUNCH

... stay crunchy...


Quote:

Originally posted by SIGNYM:
Quote:

Too bad our president would never do anything that's beneficial to the planet.
Why do you think this all depends on a President? Mayors, governors, land conservation groups like Tree People, Nature Conservancy and the Trust for Public Land, and [especially] the relevant transportation departments that maintain roadway right-of-ways all have the authority to start these forests, and Nature Conservancy has particular expertise in designing and maintaining preserves that are used by ranchers etc.



Presidents enjoy a greater amount of coverage and hence, greater influence. That's currently a bad thing.
Otherwise you are correct. If we've learned anything in the last 4 years it's: don't wait for s-head to lead. Do it yourself.

What I would like to know is just how much of a dent this great idea makes...? (I'll look for more details).

Quote:

Originally posted by SIGNYM:
I was asked, in all seriousness, what kind of coating or barrier would absorb freeway pollution and resist graffiti, and I instantly said "vines, shrubs, and trees". The policy-makers thought I was kidding, but I wasn't. Too bad they didn't take me more seriously!



That's a truly great idea (totally honest)! Only thing is it may be like a lot of great ideas; not very high on the list of priorities or line items for many munis. Like most large cities we have the traffic barriers that are just butt ugly, or covered with graffiti. Vines would be much better for the reasons you state. I wonder if upkeep is an issue? That car polution could be brutal.

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Saturday, October 24, 2020 8:31 AM

6IXSTRINGJACK


Quote:

Originally posted by captaincrunch:
If we've learned anything in the last 4 years it's: don't wait for s-head to lead. Do it yourself.



Most of us learned that lesson somewhere during the first 16 years of the 21st century, but glad to finally have you on board.

Do Right, Be Right. :)

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Saturday, October 24, 2020 10:34 AM

REAVERFAN


Quote:

Originally posted by SIGNYM:
Quote:

Too bad our president would never do anything that's beneficial to the planet.
Why do you think this all depends on a President? Mayors, governors, land conservation groups like Tree People, Nature Conservancy and the Trust for Public Land, and [especially] the relevant transportation departments that maintain roadway right-of-ways all have the authority to start these forests, and Nature Conservancy has particular expertise in designing and maintaining preserves that are used by ranchers etc.

I was asked, in all seriousness, what kind of coating or barrier would absorb freeway pollution and resist graffiti, and I instantly said "vines, shrubs, and trees". The policy-makers thought I was kidding, but I wasn't. Too bad they didn't take me more seriously!

-----------
Pity would be no more,
If we did not MAKE men poor - William Blake

#WEARAMASK



Bitch, please!

You're such a joke.



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Saturday, October 24, 2020 12:10 PM

SIGNYM

I believe in solving problems, not sharing them.



Quote:

REAVERBOT: Too bad our president would never do anything that's beneficial to the planet.

SIGNY: Why do you think this all depends on a President? Mayors, governors, land conservation groups like Tree People, Nature Conservancy and the Trust for Public Land, and [especially] the relevant transportation departments that maintain roadway right-of-ways all have the authority to start these forests, and Nature Conservancy has particular expertise in designing and maintaining preserves that are used by ranchers etc.

CC: Presidents enjoy a greater amount of coverage and hence, greater influence. That's currently a bad thing.
Otherwise you are correct. If we've learned anything in the last 4 years it's: don't wait for s-head to lead. Do it yourself.

What I would like to know is just how much of a dent this great idea makes...? (I'll look for more details).

SIGNYM:
I was asked, in all seriousness, what kind of coating or barrier would absorb freeway pollution and resist graffiti, and I instantly said "vines, shrubs, and trees". The policy-makers thought I was kidding, but I wasn't. Too bad they didn't take me more seriously!

CC: That's a truly great idea (totally honest)! Only thing is it may be like a lot of great ideas; not very high on the list of priorities or line items for many munis. Like most large cities we have the traffic barriers that are just butt ugly, or covered with graffiti. Vines would be much better for the reasons you state. I wonder if upkeep is an issue? That car polution could be brutal.

The only reason why I brought this up is because I drive a freeway that has a 15' soundwall, but the great thing is, someone (prolly Caltrans) planted a lot of vines on this particular stretch. The one that I've identified for sure is Carolina jessamine, it is a particularly vigorous vine that is evergreen in our climate and can grow 40' in a year. The vines were planted on the outside of the soundwall but have grown so large that they spill over and cover the other side as well. It's quite pretty. I NEVER see maintenance done on them, altho for sure there MUST be irrigation. So after that conversation where I happened to be sitting in at lunch where some of the managers were spitballing ideas, I went and looked up th concept of using vegetation to deaden sound, and found a study done in the Netherland where they found that a combination of trees, shrubs, and subshrubs did the best to deaden sound and absorb pollution ... perhaps they were referring to this kind of artificial forest?

Also, if any organization has a national index of useful, native species it would be Nature Conservancy, since they design and maintain multi-use conservation areas. But in California it would be California Native Plant Society and in LA it would be Tree People.

Tree People just completed a multi-city tree-planting project near the 605/5 fwy interchange. Apparently, in order to mitigate the extra traffic that a fwy widening project would encourage, Caltrans agreed to plant 3000 trees in the neighboring cities and will maintain them for three years, then turn them over to the cities.

So si, se puede. It can be done! Just... more. We could do lots more.

-----------
Pity would be no more,
If we did not MAKE men poor - William Blake

#WEARAMASK

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Wednesday, October 28, 2020 4:40 PM

JEWELSTAITEFAN


Quote:

Originally posted by SIGNYM:
Quote:

Too bad our president would never do anything that's beneficial to the planet.
Why do you think this all depends on a President? Mayors, governors, land conservation groups like Tree People, Nature Conservancy and the Trust for Public Land, and [especially] the relevant transportation departments that maintain roadway right-of-ways all have the authority to start these forests, and Nature Conservancy has particular expertise in designing and maintaining preserves that are used by ranchers etc.

I was asked, in all seriousness, what kind of coating or barrier would absorb freeway pollution and resist graffiti, and I instantly said "vines, shrubs, and trees". The policy-makers thought I was kidding, but I wasn't. Too bad they didn't take me more seriously!

-----------
Pity would be no more,
If we did not MAKE men poor - William Blake

#WEARAMASK

Perhaps they were thinking of the problems created with trees toppling over into roadways, railways, etc. They would need to be trimmed regularly, and multiply that times to=he distance of roadway they span. Even if vines and shrubs, won't they harbor pests and critters? They become roadkill, attracting birds and other carrion feeders, craeting more muck.

If you have flora solutions which address these issues, it might be more palatable. Think of heavy winds as well.



Regarding densely planted by open, I read into that the "Open" meant the huge breaks between the mini forests caused by the roadways and such, the winds and water and fauna could access the edges of the mini forest, thus making it open to/from the outside. But then the critters would be vulnerable in between cover. But that is just my take on the wording.

Are they expecting that every single sapling will be viable? Or just having them compete against each other, and the most hardy for that specific condition of sun, water, slope, etc. will survive or thrive?

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Wednesday, October 28, 2020 9:06 PM

6IXSTRINGJACK


These fast growing trees are just weeds by another name.



Do Right, Be Right. :)

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