I'm sure some of you who read this are familiar with Jean Giono's story, "The Man Who Planted Trees ," which tells the tale of Elzéar Bouffier, a fictional shepherd who spent years planting trees across a vast area of ​​Provence, transforming a desolate land into a vibrant place. It's an inspiring story that teaches us the power of persistence to positively alter our environment. Shubhendu Sharma , an industrial engineer, has done something similar, changing his career to dedicate himself entirely to reforesting degraded areas.
Shubhendu Sharma left his job at Toyota to dedicate his life to planting trees. Using the Miyawaki method , he develops forests that grow up to 10 times faster than conventional methods, becoming self-sustaining in just a few years. Since embarking on this journey, Sharma and his team have created more than 33 forests in India in just two years, demonstrating that it is possible to regenerate the environment in a short period of time. Below, we'll see how he achieved this and how you can create your own forest using his methodology.
The Miyawaki Technique: Origin and Development with Shubhendu Sharma
The Miyawaki method was developed by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki, who spent his career studying native vegetation in order to restore it to degraded lands. His approach was innovative, as it proposed planting native species at a high density in the same place to trigger natural competition between them, forcing trees to grow faster and develop sustainably.
Shubhendu Sharma, drawn to Miyawaki’s vision, began his journey into reforestation when the scientist visited the Toyota plant where he worked to create a small forest there. Sharma was fascinated by the speed and efficiency of the process, and decided to get fully involved in the task. After volunteering with Miyawaki, Sharma adapted the technique for India, taking into account the particularities of the country’s soil and native species.
With his new version of the Miyawaki method, Sharma planted his first forest in his garden in Uttarakhand and, seeing the results within a year, decided to quit his job to dedicate himself entirely to reforestation. He founded Afforestt , a company whose purpose is to create natural, self-sustaining forests anywhere in the world.
How the Miyawaki methodology works
The reforestation process proposed by Akira Miyawaki, and perfected by Sharma, essentially consists of several key stages, all aimed at creating a self-sustaining ecosystem in the long term:
- Soil study: The first step is to conduct an analysis of the land on which the forest is to be planted. This analysis includes an evaluation of the soil texture, its capacity to retain water and nutrients, and the identification of plant species native to the region.
- Selection of native species: This is an essential part of the method. Unlike commercial plantations that prioritise rapid production, in this process native species are chosen to ensure the sustainability of the forest. The key is to select between 50 and 100 different species, distributed in layers according to their height.
- Soil preparation: Soil in cities and degraded areas is often depleted, so local biomass is mixed in to improve its water and nutrient absorption capacity.
- Planting with high density: The Miyawaki method involves planting several species in a small area, which creates competition between plants for light and resources, forcing young trees to grow faster.
Once the vegetation has been planted, the forest is cared for during the first two years through irrigation and pest control. After this time, the forest becomes self-sufficient and does not require additional care. This approach allows the ecosystem to grow 10 times faster than with traditional methods and to reach, in just 10 years, the maturity of a forest that would take more than 100 years to develop naturally.
Benefits and results of Miyawaki forests
Since their implementation, Miyawaki forests have proven to be one of the most effective afforestation techniques, not only because of their growth rate, but also because of the great environmental benefits they provide:
- Increasing biodiversity: This is one of the main advantages of the method. Planted forests are home to a large number of animal and plant species. Research from Wageningen University in the Netherlands has revealed that the Miyawaki mini-forests attract more biodiversity than nearby natural forests, thanks to the variety of planted species.
- Carbon retention: By competing for space and resources, trees grow quickly and retain more CO2. In just 250 square meters, a forest can retain around 250 kilograms of carbon per year, helping to mitigate climate change.
- Improving the microclimate: These forests help absorb air pollution, attract humidity and lower local temperatures, contributing to the fight against the heat island effect in cities. Recent studies have shown a substantial improvement in air quality and temperature in urban areas where these forests have been planted.
Sharma has planted more than 138 forests in 10 countries, from India to Europe. The technique has been adopted in countries such as Belgium, France, the United Kingdom and Pakistan, where the government has launched a project to create 1.000 mini forests across the country.
The social impact of reforestation projects
In addition to the environmental benefits, Sharma's work also has a positive social impact. His company, Afforestt , not only creates forests but also empowers local communities to participate in the process of creating and maintaining these green spaces. Furthermore, some projects have been funded through crowdfunding campaigns , allowing anyone to contribute to the fight against climate change by planting trees.
A prominent example is a project seeking to create crowdfunding-based software where anyone can contribute data on native plant species in their local area, facilitating the creation of more sustainable forests around the world.
Future of urban reforestation
The impact of small, ultra-dense forests is not limited to improving the environment; they also have the potential to transform life in cities. Shubhendu Sharma and other proponents of the Miyawaki technique envision a future in which these tiny forests become commonplace in cities, acting as green lungs that improve air quality, offer shade, reduce noise and provide a haven where biodiversity can flourish.
As cities grow and the effects of climate change become more pronounced, projects like Afforestt's are more necessary than ever. The idea that any vacant space in a city can be turned into a self-sustaining forest offers a real solution to the challenge of creating sustainable environments.
It's not just about planting trees; it's a comprehensive strategy that seeks to restore ecosystems in places where it was previously not thought possible. Afforestt is already working on creating educational programs to bring this method to more people and is making the necessary tools available to everyone so that anyone can create their own forest.
Sharma's commitment to dedicating his life to reforestation has inspired many, and his work continues to demonstrate that with effort and the right methodology, it is possible to restore green spaces to our planet, even in the most urban environments.