School to plant first Miyawaki Forest in Hong Kong
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 16 AUG 2021
Contact: Camilla Zanzanaini
+852 6352 5114 | hello@naturemakerslab.com
Tai Po, Hong Kong: This August, social enterprise Nature Makers Lab teams up with international school, ICHK Hong Lok Yuen, to set up the first Miyawaki forest in Hong Kong.
Touted by Project Drawdown and The Economist as one the best urban solutions to mitigate climate change, Miyawaki forests follow a unique afforestation method that plants a wide range of native tree and shrub seedlings extremely densely — 3-4 trees per square metre, in order to mimic the natural composition and layers of a real forest. These forests can be created in spaces as small as 100m2 (about 6 parking spaces) and are self-sufficient after 2-3 years of care, making them an ideal greening option for densely packed cities such as Hong Kong.
Why use this method? A Miyawaki forest:
Grows 10 times faster than a natural forest would in the wild
Absorbs 30 times more carbon and pollution than conventionally planted forests
Can reduce the heat island effect by up to 5°C
Is a biodiversity hotspot for plants and animals right in the city
ICHK’s forest will have over 50 native species on site, including the Chinese Banyan Tree (Ficus microcarpa), Camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora), and White Mulberry (Morus alba), to name just a few. The forest will also boost ICHK’s Forest School programme — students aged 3-11 will be part of taking care of the forest, monitoring its growth and observing the biodiversity it attracts. Head of School, Derek Pinchbeck, shares that: “The Miyawaki Forest will be a key element for the school to fulfil its vision of being a leader in outdoor learning. By enabling the children to be part of developing and nurturing a vibrant ecosystem, we are empowering them to learn about and love the natural world. This not only enriches their lives but enriches the world around them.”
About Nature Makers Lab: Nature Makers Lab is a social enterprise based in Hong Kong that seeks to transform urban landscapes into biodiversity hotspots by bringing native species into city parks, schools, streets, coastlines and waterways. We are part of the SUGi Forest Maker community, who have provided invaluable guidance for our first forest.
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Name tags for the tree species to be planted. Courtesy of HM Chau, ICHK.