Shreyas using Miyawaki method to plant 10,00 saplings

AHMEDABAD: In the run-up to June 5, World Environment Day, city based Shreyas Foundation will complete planting of 10,000 saplings in an area of just 2,620 sq m. They are using an afforestation technique developed by Japanese botanist, Akira Miyawaki.
The Miyawaki method of planting trees involves planting different types of trees close together in a small pit. By closely planting many random trees in a small area it enriches the green cover and reinforces richness of the land.This leads to co-existence of plants and each plant draws from others the vital nutrients they need to grow and become strong and healthy. This technique acquires special significance at a time when green cover is depleting rapidly, and experts estimate that the remaining rainforests could be consumed in less than 40 years.
The methodology has proven to work across varied soil and climate conditions. The plantation technique and cluster plantations allow for the trees to grow 10 times faster, while it absors 30 times more carbon dioxide, the density is also almost 30 times more than normal plantations of equal number of trees.
This project is also supported by Serenity Foundation, a non-profit organization associated with environment conservation for long. On Monday morning, a presentation on Miyawaki technique of plantation will also be made by experts at Shreyas followed by Miyawaki tree plantation by Shreyas students.
Shreyas Foundation was built on the tenets of Madam Montessori’s, Rabindranath Tagore’s and Gandhian philosophies of teaching. On Monday, there will be a presentation with the children to create awareness on the importance of forests. The trust by using this methodology has the objective to give a new definition to the forestation;