Norwalk's Miyawaki Micro-Forest
What Is a Miyawaki Microforest?
A Miyawaki micro-forest is a deliberately designed, densely planted native forest ecosystem whose structure, soils, species composition, and long-term stewardship are intended to accelerate ecological development on a relatively small site.
The Miyawaki method, pioneered by Dr. Akira Miyawaki, is one of the most effective methods for establishing rapid tree canopy growth in urban settings with degraded soils. This method establishes a pioneer forest within 20-30 years. The dense planting method promotes fast growth and helps the young forest outcompete invasive and weedy plants.
Photo courtesy of Planit Wild
An established Miyawaki Forest in Cambridge, MA.
Our Norwalk Forest
In 2024, NRWA received a 'Pavement to Micro-forest' grant of $150,000 from the CT Dept. of Energy and Environmental Protection along with partners Norwalk Land Trust and The City of Norwalk. The City removed 5,500 square feet of pavement at Meadow Street Park in South Norwalk, and we used that space to create an urban forest containing over 1000 native trees and shrubs in addition to almost as many grasses and wildflowers. The goal is for the new trees to help cool and clean the air, filter storm water, and provide habitat for wildlife in an area that previously had just 16 municipal trees.
A rendering of the future Norwalk Microforest from the forest design.
Before Pictures: The site South Norwalk, is next to the Meadow Gardens Apartments and across from Lajoie's Auto Wrecking, Scrap Metal Recycling industrial plant. The micro-forest will buffer apartment dwellers from the industry across the street.
Volunteers planting at the opening of the micro-forest in October, 2025.
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The Norwalk micro-forest after 9 months of growth, summer 2026
Who was Dr. Akira Miyawaki?
Dr Akira Miyawaki (1928–2021) dedicated his life to research and literature surrounding the creation and healing power of native forests. After studying biology at Hiroshima University and researching plant ecology in Japan and Germany, Miyawaki developed the concept
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of potential natural vegetation (PNV), planting the species thatthe land is naturally suited to support,taking inspiration and plant communities from remnants of indigenous forests found at temples, shrines, and cemeteries.
By the 1970s, Dr. Miyawaki began to apply his research to planting dense, multilayered forests. He instructed plantings in 1700 sites during his career, 1400 of which were in Japan. With large plantings, Professor Miyawaki would always take an hour or so to instruct group leaders, instilling a sense of responsibility and making sure everyone understood the assignment. His work is the scientific foundation behind the densely planted, native-species micro-forests that have spread around the world, for which careful species selection, soil preparation, and long-term stewardship are key.
Invasive Norway maple saplings weeded from our Norwalk microforest.
Tips for a Successful Forest
A Miyawaki microforest is defined by more than simply planting trees densely, though. It begins with selecting the correct native species based on the site’s potential natural vegetation (PNV), followed by soil remediation and preparation.According to Mio Urata, Dr. Miyawaki's pupil of 20 years, the soil should be tilled and amended (often with ~4 kg of soil amendment per square meter) with any slopes reinforced using rocks or sticks; some projects have also used fence terraces on slopes.
As of the forests second year, less than 10 total woody perennial plants (trees and shrubs) of over 1000 in the forest's entire lifecycle have died, and we continue to water the forest and monitor it for disease as needed. After assessing the state of invasives and weeds throughout the forest, results were promising. Across the different sections of the forest, weed density ranges from close to 1 weed per square foot to, more commonly, just 0.1 weeds per square foot (with an average weed density under 0.2 per square foot). Our forest is very healthy and amazingly vibrant, and we can't wait to see what it becomes in the next few years!
The planting stock is ideally 2-3 year-old potted seedlings, with fully developed root systems; smaller pots can make seedlings easier for volunteers to handle while keeping roots vigorous. Planting emphasizes the principle of “don’t plant big trees, plant trees that have the power to grow into big trees,” while meadows can be incorporated, particularly along edges to support pollinators in the early years of growth.
Establishment is followed by active stewardship, including maintaining 4–6 inches of mulch in pathways, monitoring, community engagement, and adapting the forest as plants grow and become shaded.