Chennai poised for environ start : Aug 15, 2021.... "MIYAWAKI FOREST " - sapling as per your Rasi

 

 CHENNAI poised for environ start: Aug 15, 2021   ‘MIYAWAKI FOREST’- saplings as per your ‘RASI’

 

What is a Miyawaki forest and its scope?

To understand it better, my counter question to you is: What is it you can provide to Mother Earth in gratitude for having lived and breathed air absolutely tax-free on earth? What rent are we paying to the expansive planet for housing us and our extended families for so many years? A mini-forest range in the heart of a city to augment rains, remove pollution, provide purified air and cooling, high levels of oxygen supply in abundance for all, etc is the best form of gratitude and repayment during our lifetime, akin to maintenance of the planet bestowed to us.  That exactly is what a Miyawaki Forest can do.  Miyawaki is named after the legendary Mr. Akira Miyawaki, who first founded the mini-forest concept in Japan. By and large, thanks to his revolutionary thinking, it now replicated in many countries world-wide.

What have we planned?

The PALM – a public charitable Trust is now engaged in a massive effort to popularise Miyawaki Afforestation, a planting method developed by legendary Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki to grow micro forests in urban areas. The Founder Trustee of The PALM, Shri V.Kalyanam , Former Personal Secretary to  the Mahatma ( who died recently at the age of 99 ) an avid gardener himself,  grew several trees  and planted saplings wherever he went.  He certainly had a green thumb and silently did his spade work on the green-front for over 6-7 hours daily until he was 97, after which age-related ailments prevented him as he was wheel-chair bound. He had donated several saplings all his life to those who he knew would take proper care of it.

As a tribute to my father who strived relentlessly on the Go- Green concept, The PALM commemorates his 100th Birth anniversary on Aug 15, his birthday that he shared with India’s Independence Day. A Miyawaki forest is planned at Red Hills for 20,000 native saplings in the height of 2-3 feet. What makes it unique is that volunteers have been informed to plant native saplings as per their Rasi (astrological Moon Signs) so that the energy levels of that particular Rasi is high and oxygen levels for that Rasi is met.   

Across the lake on a periphery of a 32 kms range in collaboration with the Govt. of Tamil Nadu, Alpha School, volunteers and several prominent crusaders of the green-front, design to make a stupendous start to spurt the youngsters in the right direction during the pandemic.  It is intended to be a week-long affair combined with India’s 75^th Independence Day celebrations.

Native Species of trees are a must for MIYAWAKI .

Although it is not recommended to have fruit trees inside the forest range, we intend to plant some at the periphery without disturbing the forest, from a standpoint of being able to provide some fruits to the laborers and wayside passers-by apart from being remunerative too in the respective seasons of fruiting with eco-friendly tree guards made by tribal Narikurava communities ( or the Nomads as they are referred to) 

The intended Miyawaki ‘forest’ at Red Hills is envisaged to be no less than 30 times denser than a natural one.  It is important to have only native saplings.  They grow vertically instead of horizontally to say 15 feet or more in height, in as quickly as one and half to 2 years, considering they are planted close to one another to prevent sunlight from penetrating to the ground and retaining a moist soil. Needless to add, the urban-micro forests gives space for an ecosystem which allow several transitory birds, colourful and beautiful butterflies apart from various species of insects to cheerfully visit and flit past as ‘invited’ guests to share the booty from a co-existence point of view on the planet. Until the plant saplings grow dense, it may be capital-intensive, but in a couple of years they become self-sufficient.  We face so many challenges and hurdles on the eco-front including pollution issues which the trees would address, an afforestation as this in several urban and rural areas is certainly the answer, even if it be at the micro-level.  If each year we as citizens plan about 3-4 Micro forests with collaborated efforts, it could eventually pave the way for a better retention of moisture in the land and also is the best solution for land degradation.

When this takes off, at different places across Tamil Nadu, we can be sure our sweltering hot climate is far better, less humid and much cooler; and the serious challenges of deforestation would also be met in a short time. Its akin to killing several birds at one stone. The best time is to take advantage of the monsoon and plant them accordingly for a good start.   

The next gen would be able to live in comfort with higher oxygen levels and a purified atmosphere with no scarcity. This is the need of the hour. Planting native trees is not an option. It is THE ONLY OPTION for a better and safe living. Imagine, when you plant 20,000 saplings over a 32 kms stretch, with no less than 40 to 50 varieties of native saplings, each will outgrow one another in a race to outbid and the dense forest; it would be a sheer visual treat in just a couple of years, thus earning us invaluable carbon footprints in the bargain at the international market.  The PALM represented by Rajkumar Ghorpade, an advocate by profession, has roped in Alpha school, located in Red Hills area which has about 3000 school children, so that The PALM is able to impart FREE training to the next gen in what a Miyawaki forest is all about and how it can help climate change. The children would look after the saplings in summer on a rotational basis for just a period of two years and from then on, it’s a smooth sail.  The children would get certificates for their involvement apart from knowledge. The PALM has been offered other areas too and we intend taking the support from the public, schools nearby and volunteers to make this a grand success and replicate.

How can we have many micro forests in TAMIL NADU?  What  it entails

Collaborated efforts always pay 

As a Social Activist and a crusader on the green-front apart from being one of the Founder Members of ‘The PALM’, I am actively pursuing this as a project with a band of volunteers and local specialists on the Miyawaki forest range, invite collaboration with other NGOs and support organizations too. I have no doubts whatsoever that Chennai in Tamil Nadu would be transformed into a different place altogether to touch new heights despite the Corona crisis and is spearing ahead to execute the same across Tamil Nadu.  

We already have the Railways team at Trichy in Tamil Nadu who have executed the Miyawaki forest a few years back and bagged prizes for their outstanding contribution in the field. There are many more like Sankalptaru, Forest Department, IAHV, Shirdi Sri Sathya Sai Kuberar Trust, Gandhi World Foundation, and many silent, dedicated individuals too who are providing saplings for such work.

Incidentally, members of PLANT GREEN VISTAS a WhatsApp group, formed in 2015 by me (under the auspices of ‘The PALM’) with international members from 6 countries, NRI’s and locals on the group also contribute for such works silently. The speciality of this amazing, vibrant group is that they not only share information on the green-front, they also swap local plants across India and relate with and practice eco-friendly solutions such as Bio-enzymes, Permaculture, nurturing fallen birds, Solid Waste Management, etc.

The scope of MIYAWAKI FOREST has reached far and wide across boundaries. Its time to act and celebrate.  Don’t ask what can my government do? Ask yourself what is it I can offer as my service to the nation before I quit the world! That’s exactly what Akira Miyawaki has done. His life is his message. Let’s replicate service from our hearts.

MALINI KALYANAM

BLOGGER, PARENT, SOCIAL ACTIVIST, POTTERY ARTIST, HOLISTIC HEALER, FREELANCE WRITER, HR PROFESSIONAL, (not necessarily in the same order)

PS: This article has been written by me as there have been a number of my friends requesting what exactly is this Miyawaki concept and how is it different from a Tree plantation drive.  I hope it clarifies and creates awareness.

Those living far away or in other cities, but desirous of wanting to contribute saplings as per their Rasi for the family’s good health, wellbeing and prosperity may contact palmtrust2013@gmail.com  with their Rasi details. Upon payment from your end, the Trust would purchase the saplings, send you a receipt and arrange to plant on your behalf. There are a host of other activities that you could sponsor for. Check to find out what gels best with you.