Miyawaki Symposium

Waves of Green: Harnessing the Power of Miyawaki Forests

What is the Miyawaki Method?

The Miyawaki Method is a cutting edge approach to urban forestry and landscaping, developed by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki. These all native micro forests boost biodiversity, improve air quality, and lower temperatures around school buildings - all while utilizing minimal water.

Native saplings are densely planted and grow exponentially faster than traditional methods, all while thriving with little to no maintenance. The Miyawaki Method has shown remarkable success in urban landscapes across California, featuring 90%+ survival rates. Miyawaki forests not only rewild underutilized and neglected urban lands, making a space for Mother Nature to co-exist with humans in cities, but they simultaneously create beautiful green spaces for communities to enjoy.

Miyawaki Forest Benefits:

  • Present an immediate solution to urban heat islands and rising playground blacktop temperatures

  • Reduce school district maintenance costs, leaf litter, and water bills

  • Trees mature 10 times faster than conventional landscaping while using a fraction of the water

  • Native plants create ecological habitat for butterflies, pollinators, and birds

  • Inspire your school community to come together in environmental service

  • Promote student wellness and fresh air

  • Forests can fit into as little as 200 sq ft on a school playground or replace the front lawn!

Hosted by

Ms. Neelam Patil

TIME Magazine Teacher of the Year and founder of Green Pocket Forest, Ms. Patil empowered her students to plant the first schoolyard Miyawaki Forests in California.

With Keynote Speaker

Dr. Kazue Fujiwara

The protégé of Dr. Akira Miyawaki, Dr. Fujiwara is the world’s leading authority on Miyawaki forests

King Middle School

Berkeley, California

Thursday July 24 -

Friday July 25, 2025

Why attend this symposium?

The Miyawaki Symposium invites you to explore how this innovative method can create lush green spaces in your community.

  • Discover innovative climate literacy projects for your school. Learn how to integrate the Miyawaki method into your curriculum and inspire young minds.

  • Gain insight on how to implement this method in your own school/community from experts in the Miyawaki method

  • Learn from experts in ecology and nature based solutions about how the Miyawaki Method can create vibrant, dense forests in your area.

  • Network with like-minded individuals, including educators and policymakers, committed to making a difference.

  • Participate in interactive workshops that will equip you with the tools needed to implement this method in your own school or community.

Who should attend?

  • Public School Teachers: Discover innovative climate literacy projects for your school. Learn how to integrate the Miyawaki method into your curriculum and inspire young minds.

  • Students and Youth: Gain community to work on cutting edge environmental solutions.

  • City Council Members, City Planners, Landscape Architects, Urban Foresters and Ecologists: Learn how to enhance micro green spaces and address urgent urban environmental issues.

  • School Board Members and Administrative Leaders: Bring innovative climate literacy themed project based learning to your district.

  • Homeowners and Large Scale Private Landowners: Understand how you can contribute to climate solutions right where you live.

  • Anyone who is concerned about climate change, drought, heat, or biodiversity. You’ll gain hope!

How Quickly do Miyawaki Forests Grow in California?

  • Planting Day

    All native drought tolerant saplings are 6 - 8 inches tall and planted at 3 per square meter.

  • 18 months later

    The forest is exploding with growth, biodiversity, and bird songs. The shrubs are 8 to 12 feet tall!

  • Three years later

    Classrooms which baked in the sun are now shaded and cool. Birdsong, bees, and butterflies abound!

Sign up to attend!

Be a part of the wave that brings us back to nature. Together, we can create greener, healthier communities for generations to come.