In March 2023, 50 volunteers joined forces with our planting partner, Brett Krause, from Brettacorp Inc., and planted Australia’s largest Miyawaki forest in Far North Queensland: Dingo Pocket Miyawaki Forest. Two years later, this rapidly maturing tropical lowland forest stands approximately 9m proud and trails over 250m long. This project highlights the method’s potential for regional ecological restoration.
Connecting fragmented ecosystems
Running along the fence line of this degraded farmland site, there’s now a dense and luscious wildlife corridor known as Dingo Pocket Miyawaki Forest.
The intention behind this pocket forest? To create a wildlife corridor that complements regional efforts to restore landscape connectivity for threatened wildlife. These wildlife “corridors” connect strips of land that have degraded due to human development and aim to restore the native landscape so that wildlife and the natural ecology of each ecosystem continue to exist. It enables wildlife to safely move between patches of natural vegetation for food, water, shelter, and mates.
Using the Miyawaki method for reforestation
While Miyawaki forests are best known as small urban forests, this project highlights the method’s application in regional ecological restoration.
Developed by Japanese botanist Dr. Akira Miyawaki in the early 1970s, the Miyawaki method was initially designed to restore native forests on degraded land and areas with poor soil quality. Remediating the soil and planting diverse species at density speeds up the succession rate to a natural, mature forest.
As a result of their rapid succession rates, Miyawaki forests are ideal for swiftly creating wildlife corridors. Endangered species in the area, such as the Spectacled Flying-fox and the Mahogany glider rely on connected habitats to access seasonal food sources, escape extreme weather, and maintain healthy populations.
Dingo Pocket Miyawaki Forest covers an area of 750m² and is densely planted with 3,000 seedlings from 50 native rainforest plant species. The diversity of plants within Miyawaki forests, for example, can provide a continuous and varied supply of food sources throughout the year, catering to the seasonal dietary needs of various species. By creating and protecting these natural corridors, we can support Australia’s endangered species and biodiversity, bringing fragmented ecosystems back to their natural processes.
Here is a snapshot of the forest at two years of age:
• Size: 750m²
• Age of forest: 2 years old
• Number of seedlings planted: 3,000
• Seedling survival rate: 90%
• Overall size: 9 meters
• Location: Tully, Queensland
We are so happy with the progress on this one! The image on the right shows a quick snapshot of the evolution in just 15 months.
Did you know that the Miyawaki Method is used to restore even larger areas?
In June 2009, Toyota collaborated with Dr. Akira Miyawaki to develop India’s first Miyawaki forest. This project transformed a 4-hectare area around their manufacturing plant in Bidadi, Karnataka, into a dense, native forest. The initiative showcased the method’s potential for rapid forestation and biodiversity enhancement.
Where to from here?
Dingo Pocket Forest is self-sustaining, which means it needs no maintenance or irrigation now that it has been established. We are excited to watch this forest grow over the years and to see what wildlife will be spotted playing through it. The success of this forest is thanks to all volunteers, staff, and partners, such as Brett Krause and the crew at Brettacorp Inc. We are excited to continue working with everyone to restore Australia’s ecosystems.
Additionally, we’ve been collaborating across Australia to trial this approach on small degraded sites and look forward to sharing project updates with you soon. Stay tuned by subscribing to our newsletter!
