Viyyur prison gets a Miyawaki forest

Thrissur: The

Viyyur central prison

in

Thrissur

district will get lung space soon. A '

Miyawaki

' afforestation project implemented by the central prison authorities and Kerala Shastra Sahitya Parishad (KSSP) has started.

The 'Miyawaki' method named after famed Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki is a technique of planting native species closely in a small space to mimic a mini

forest

.

The authorities have planted over 2000 saplings comprising a variety of locally found species, including Kunthirikkam (white dammar), Plavu (Jack tree), mango tree, Kattujathi (wild nutmeg), Anjili (wild jack), Arjunamaruth (Strychnine) and Marotty (Chaulmoogra).

“The 'Miyawaki Method' is a unique technique to grow forests," said Kerala Shastra Sahitya Parishad Thrissur district secretary T Satyanarayan. "It’s specialty is that plants receive sunlight only from the top. A Miyawaki forest can grow in even two cents. In the prison premises we have 20 cents for the project," he added.

The KSSP says it plans to grow at least nine other similar forests in the Thrissur district before proceeding to other districts. Thrissur social forestry Assistant Forest Conservator P M Prabhu said: "In towns, Miyawaki forests consisting of lianas, shrubs, herbs, and creepers are practical."

Viyyur central prison superintendent N S Nirmalanandan Nair said jail DGP Rishiraj Singh had directed to go ahead with the project that they have named, 'Gandhismrithivanam'.