Existing urban and community areas are losing tree cover at a rate equivalent to approximately 36 million trees annually across the United States, according to The Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Closer to home, Merchantville continues to lose trees at an alarming rate due to flooding, drought, pests, cut roots, as well as intentional removal.
Efforts to replace lost trees range from investing in our town’s Shade Tree budget to planting seedlings distributed by The Shade Tree Federation to residents investing their own funds. Despite these efforts, Merchantville’s tree loss continues to surpass its tree gain.
Tiny forests are a creative option to replace our lost tree canopy utilizing a small area of land. These densely planted plots provide much of the environmental benefits that larger forests provide, helping to mitigate the problems that arise from a reduced tree canopy such as loss of habitat, shade, and water absorption.
The Miyawaki Method, devised by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki, is a technique for reforestation whereby a small space is densely planted with native trees and understory (underlying layer of vegetation in a forest or wooded area), and the soil supplemented to feed the newly establishing planting. The first couple of years require some care, including the removal of any invasive weeds and non-natives and regular watering. But once established, the tiny forest will sustain itself.
The Shade Tree Commission, in partnership with the Green Team, is planning a tiny forest along the bike path in a relatively barren stretch of land, west of Browning Road. Fulfillment of the project is subject to funding and approval by local officials. If the project moves forward, soils will be amended in the first year. The plan would be finalized during that time and in the second and third years, the establishment of a tiny forest would take place, resulting in many years going forward of beauty and bounty for Merchantville.