Vadodara to get 1st Miyawaki forest

Vadodara: A mini forest will come up in a residential society in Tandalja area of the city. The Society for Clean Environment (SOCLEEN) has taken up the project of developing Vadodara’s first Miyawaki forest and medicinal plant garden in Tandalja.
It is being developed using the Miyawaki technique pioneered by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki that helps build dense, native forests popularised as mini forests.
“Currently, there are two places in Vadodara where you can see indigenous trees which otherwise grow only in forest. The two places are botanical garden at M S University and Kamatibaug. This will be the third place in the city where you will be able to see indigenous trees that you see in a forest,” said professor Arun Arya, SOCLEEN’s joint secretary and former head of MSU’s botany department.
“This is also Vadodara’s first Miyawaki style forest that will come up in a private premise,” said Arya, adding that the mini forest-cum-medicinal plant garden is being developed in residential plot owned by SOCLEEN’s secretary Tinoo Chavla.
“This will be developed into a biodiversity park. While one-fourth of the plot will be utilised to develop Miyawaki style forest, another portion will be utilised to develop medicinal plant garden. The rest will be used as open air school for kids,” he said.
The project that was inaugurated by SOCLEEN’s president Shubhangini Raje Gaekwad is aimed at providing greenery and fresh air to the society inhabitants and educate school children and citizens about indigenous trees.
Using the Japanese technique, the indigenous trees will be planted together in close vicinity converting the area into a biodiversity zone that can attract butterflies, birds, squirrels, among others.