Microforests: The new urban oasis

• Author:
• Author name

  Quantumrun Foresight
• October 8, 2024

Insight summary

Microforests are small, densely planted forests that grow much faster than traditional forests, helping restore biodiversity and improve urban environments. These green spaces can cool city temperatures, clean polluted air, and even reduce the risk of flooding, but they require careful planning to ensure long-term success. Governments, businesses, and communities are increasingly embracing microforests as part of their climate strategies, offering new opportunities for environmental restoration and local engagement.

Microforests context

Microforests are small, densely planted forests designed to restore biodiversity and combat climate change in urban and rural environments. Typically occupying areas as small as 100 square meters, they comprise a variety of native plant species that mimic the complex ecosystem found in traditional forests. Microforests grow rapidly, allowing them to reach maturity in just a few decades, much faster than conventional reforestation methods. By incorporating a wide range of plants, these forests promote rich biodiversity, encouraging the return of insects, birds, and small animals. Initiatives like the GROW project by the Aga Khan Foundation and Miyawaki Forests show how communities around the world are planting microforests to create localized climate solutions.

The key to the microforests' effectiveness is their dense planting strategy, which encourages competition among plants and accelerates growth. This method, pioneered by Japanese botanist Akiro Miyawaki, has been used to plant thousands of forests across the globe, with some sites growing ten times faster than traditional forests. Dense planting also helps stabilize soil, enhancing rainwater absorption and preventing erosion. Microforests not only serve as carbon sinks, absorbing carbon dioxide more efficiently than traditional forests, but also create cooler urban microclimates by reducing temperatures by up to 10°C. Additionally, they help clean polluted urban air, as demonstrated by New York City's The Bronx, where microforests aim to lower high asthma rates.

Despite their benefits, experts think more research is needed to optimize microforest planting and ensure long-term sustainability. Factors like invasive species, soil quality, and maintenance need to be carefully managed to avoid challenges seen in large-scale tree planting efforts, like New York’s MillionTreesNYC. However, the overall consensus is that microforests represent a promising, community-driven response to urban environmental challenges. 

Disruptive impact

With microforests offering cleaner air and cooler temperatures, people may notice improvements in health and well-being. For example, those living near microforests might experience fewer breathing issues, particularly in cities with high pollution. In addition, having more green spaces nearby could boost mental health by providing easy access to nature for relaxation and outdoor activities. However, individuals may also need to help maintain these spaces, as some communities might rely on local involvement to ensure their long-term success.

Microforests could also change how businesses operate, especially in city development, sustainability, and social responsibility. Companies may start including microforests in their office areas or industrial sites to improve their environmental image. This trend could also create new opportunities for landscaping and urban planning businesses that focus on restoring ecosystems. However, companies may face challenges with the upfront costs of setting up and caring for microforests, as well as balancing environmental goals with financial interests. Additionally, companies involved in carbon offsetting might find new ways to make money by using microforests for carbon capture.

Meanwhile, governments may look at microforests as part of larger environmental and city planning efforts. Cities at risk of flooding could include microforests in their plans to prevent erosion and absorb rainwater. In addition, governments might invest in grants or funds to encourage communities and private companies to plant microforests as part of climate response strategies. However, managing these projects may require new rules to ensure microforests fit well into broader city environments without causing unexpected issues.

Implications of microforests

Wider implications of microforests may include: 

• A shift in urban planning to integrate more green spaces like microforests, leading to improved air quality and healthier living conditions for city residents.
• Microforest-related jobs leading to new employment opportunities in environmental management and urban landscaping sectors.
• Governments increasing investment in microforest projects to combat climate change, leading to higher public spending on environmental sustainability.
• An increased demand for land in cities to develop microforests, leading to potential tensions between developers and conservationists over land use.
• A greater focus on biodiversity protection in cities, leading to changes in local policies that prioritize native species over non-native plants.
• Schools incorporating environmental education around microforests into their curriculums, leading to greater ecological awareness among younger generations.
• Companies specializing in microforest development, leading to new business models focused on urban ecological restoration.
• Communities organizing around microforest projects, leading to stronger local bonds and a heightened sense of civic responsibility.
• A rise in real estate prices in areas near microforests, leading to economic shifts in urban housing markets.
• Technological advancements in plant monitoring systems, leading to more efficient management and care of these urban green spaces.

Questions to consider

• How could introducing microforests improve the quality of life in your neighborhood or city?
• How could you or your community maintain urban green spaces like microforests?