Mini forests for Eimsbüttel: Green initiative for more nature!

Mini forests for Eimsbüttel: Green initiative for more nature!

The Greens in Eimsbüttel have big plans: They want to allow nature to flourish in the neighborhood. With an ambitious project to reforest small areas, they want to breathe new life into forests using the environmentally friendly Miyawaki method. The goal is to pave over sealed areas and plant dense, green mini-forests instead. This could be the beginning of a new green era in Eimsbüttel, where previous open spaces will be transformed into atmospheric oases of biodiversity.

The initiative plans to continue converting affected areas until the end of October. The focus should be on suitable areas of 60 square meters or more, which will be examined for their suitability for unsealing and reforestation. An outstanding example from the neighborhood is Altona, where around 300 square meters of forest were recently successfully reforested. The advantages of the Miyawaki method include not only the use of a large number of native plants with over 20 different species, but also the individual density of the trees is significantly higher than with conventional cultivation methods, which helps combat heat islands in urban areas.

Miyawaki Method: A concept with tradition

The Miyawaki method is named after the Japanese forest researcher Akira Miyawaki and has received international attention. Developed in the 1970s, it fell into obscurity a few years ago until it was rediscovered by Project Afforestt and environmentalist Shubhendu Sharma. Since then, over 138 forests in various countries have been created using this method. What's special about it is that the entire reforestation process takes place in several steps, starting with the analysis of the soil to ensure the best conditions for planting.

A central point of the method lies in the planting process itself. Three to four seedlings per square meter are placed in the ground in a random arrangement. This promotes biodiversity and leads to dense vegetation that not only acts as a CO2 store, but also improves air quality and reduces noise and dust. The first three years after planting require some care, but after that the forest develops largely self-sufficiently.

A positive example in Eimsbüttel

The Greens have already made a small request to the Eimsbüttel district to clarify which areas have currently been reported for paving and whether they are eligible for the implementation of the project. In this way, Eimsbüttel could not only become a pioneer in reforestation, but also contribute to promoting biological diversity in urban areas. Studies show that after about three years, a healthy forest is created that acts as a living natural space for future generations.

This project offers the opportunity to increase the quality of life in the neighborhood and give the citizens back a piece of nature. If everything goes according to plan, Eimsbüttel will soon be able to offer more trees and less sealed areas. One could almost say that a new chapter in Hamburg's green history is opening here. The vision is clear: more mini-forests for a greener city – and that’s a good thing!

For more information about the Miyawaki Method and its potential, those interested can check out the initiatives on the website Citizens Forests or Sugi Project that offer comprehensive insights into this innovative type of reforestation.