MCC to set up Miyawaki micro forests in 10 wards

Mysuru: Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) will adopt the Miyawaki model of setting up micro forests to tackle urban heat, improve air quality and green spaces.A micro forest will be set up in 10 different wards, planting 50,000 trees of 32 different types. MCC will set up the micro forest under corporate social responsibility. The Miyawaki model, which is also called the Miyawaki method, is a forest restoration and afforestation technique developed by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki. The model aims at creating dense, fast-growing, native forests on small plots of land. MCC had developed such a micro forest two years ago in 2024 on one acre of land by planting 12,000 trees of 38 different varieties of native species at a park in Vijayanagar 3rd stage with CSR funding from Toyota Kirloskar. These trees had grown to 10 feet within two years of plantation. Buoyed by the success of this micro forest model, MCC also developed another micro forest by planting 15,000 trees of 29 native varieties at Jodi Bevinamara Park in Dattagalli second stage. A third micro forest was created at Saalumarada Thimmakka Park in Kuvempu Nagar, where 15,000 different types of saplings of native species were planted on March 23 last year. This was also based on the Miyawaki model. An ongoing tree census undertaken by MCC with support of forest and private players across the city is expected to complete in another 15 days. MCC will set up these micro forests and plant trees once the census report is out. Speaking to TOI, MCC commissioner Sheikh Tanveer Asif said the city corporation has decided to set up such micro forests to tackle rising temperatures, improve air quality and green space for residents.