Miyawaki Forests, WA​

We are working with Dr Grey Coupland (Harry Butler Institute) and the local community to develop Miyawaki pocket forests in urban areas that are particularly impacted by the urban heat island effect. These fast-growing, dense, low maintenance native forests help to cool thermal hotspots, provide shade and amenity and can achieve canopy cover in just 3 years. They also provide habitat, reduce the effects of stormwater runoff, contribute to cooling the area, and help seed rainfall.

Miyawaki forests are named after their pioneer – Japanese botanist, Akira Miyawaki – and were designed as compressed forests for small areas. We will be funding these pocket forests in schools and community parks across Australia. For schoolchildren, planting Miyawaki forests offers multiple learning opportunities (including monitoring growth, species diversity, fauna etc), as well as enabling them to take practical, empowering action in the face of climate change.

Last year, we funded five successful pocket forests in schools across the Perth metropolitan area and at a community garden in regional WA. In 2023, we are funding another four Miyawaki forests in schools located within heat-impacted areas of Perth.