STEM MICRO Learning Forests
Schoolyard Micro Forests
using the Miyawaki Method
Planting day
Cragmont Elementary,
Berkeley CA
One year later
King Middle School,
Berkeley CA
Learning Forests
- Connect students with nature and outdoor learning
- empower students to make a difference by participating in a climate change solution
- Improve student/ community wellness
Learning Opportunities
- STEM Scientific Data gathering
- Social Emotional Wellness
- Cultural, social, medicinal
significance of native plants
- Indigenous Land stewardship values
Introduction to Miyawaki Forests
- Densely-planted native species
- Diverse, multi-layered forests
- Quick to establish (3 years) and mature (20-30 years)
- Virtually maintenance-free
- Rewild underutilized urban spaces,
- Reintroduce native plant and
animal species.
- Reduce water consumption to a fraction
- Rehabilitate soil health
Benefits
10%
Faster growth
30%
more dense
40%
more carbon sequestered
Up to
100%
more biodiversity
Benefits for Schools
- Replace lawn or blacktop with drought-tolerant native plants.
- Address the urban heat island effect with a cooling microclimate
- Boost physical and mental health
Dr. Akira Miyawaki was a Japanese botanist and plant ecology expert.
His method of afforestation (planting forests in previously
un-treed areas) allows for the rapid creation of urban pockets of forest.
Dr. Akira Miyawaki
Impact of Learning Forests in Berkeley, CA:
- Engaged 250+ volunteers, 55+ teachers, and 1,450+ school children in planting
- 4,000 saplings, 4 schoolyard forests
- Each forest hosts at least 20 native species
- Average of 90% survival rate
- Average height of trees is 12 ft after one year
Interested in planting a Learning Forest at your school? Want to learn more?
Contact Green Pocket Forests
neelam.patil@iahv.org