MIYAWAKI FOREST
WHY IN NEWS ?
- Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his latest ‘Mann ki baat’ episode spoke about Miyawaki plantation.
WHAT IS MIYAWAKI PLANTATION METHOD ?
- Named after Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki, this method involves planting two to four different types of indigenous trees within every square metre.
- In this method, the trees become self-sustaining and they grow to their full length within three years.
- The methodology was developed in the 1970s, with the basic objective to densify green cover within a small parcel of land.
- The plants used in the Miyawaki method are mostly self-sustaining and don’t require regular maintenance like manuring and watering.
- Over the years, this cost effective method has become the go-to solution for the civic body to restore the green cover in a space-starved city like Mumbai.
IS MIYAWAKI SUCCESSFUL ?
- The dense green cover of indigenous trees plays a key role in absorbing the dust particles of the area where the garden has been set up.
- The plants also help in regulating surface temperature. Some of the common indigenous plants that are used for these forests include Anjan, Amala, Bel, Arjun and Gunj.
- The dense green cover of indigenous trees plays a key role in absorbing the dust particles of the area where the garden has been set up.
- The plants also help in regulating surface temperature. Some of the common indigenous plants that are used for these forests include Anjan, Amala, Bel, Arjun and Gunj.
MIYAWAKI PLANTATION @ MUMBAI:
- According to the civic body’s data, 64 Miyawaki forests have been planted in Mumbai so far.
- The Miyawaki drive was launched under BMC’s urban forest project on January 2, 2020 and the first such forest was created in Bhakti Park at Chembur in the eastern suburbs.
- The largest Miyawaki forest under this project was created at Chandivali’s Nahar Amrut Shakti Udyan, wherein over 41,000 plants were planted over 13 acres.
- Civic officials said that more than 4,00,000 trees have been planted in these 64 forests so far.
- The BMC’s Garden cell had earmarked 1,100 plots across Mumbai for setting up these forests, back in 2020, out of which more than 60 have been completed.
SYLLABUS: PRELIMS, MAINS, ENVIRONMENT: GS-3
