LAHORE: The provincial metropolis will soon have 51 Miyawaki urban forests as the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) is working on the project.

Prime Minister Imran Khan is likely to inaugurate one such forest at Jilani Park (Racecourse Park) on Feb 12.

“We have been told that PM Khan will inaugurate one of Miyawaki forest sites at the Jilani Park,” PHA Director General Jawad Qureshi, told Dawn on Tuesday.

PM likely to inaugurate a forest in Racecourse Park on 12th

Miyawaki is a method invented by 93-year-old Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki, an expert in plant bionetwork, specialist in seeds and study of natural forests. He is active worldwide as a professional in the restoration of natural vegetation on degraded land. The technique helps build dense and native forests. The approach is supposed to ensure that plant growth is 10 times faster and the resulting plantation is 30 times denser than usual.

Following the method in a bid to develop urban forests for improving the deteriorating environmental situation in Lahore, the PHA had started work on the project last year and it was partially funded by the private sector. The authority identified 51 locations in populated areas where indigenous trees and shrubs were planted by preparing ground/soil without use of chemicals, pesticide or fertilizers.

As per the Miyawaki method, 1,125 plants are being planted per kanal at all locations geotagged already.

The 51 sites where forests are being developed included Jilani Park, Bahria Park, Township, Pathrowonwali Park, Arjun Road and Bilal Park in Green Town, Qarshi Park, Ghalib Market Park, Main Park, Main Boulevard and Aslam Riaz Park in Gulberg, Block H-1 Park, Phase II, Sabzazaar, Block E-1 Masjid Ya Rasool Allah Park, Gulshan-i-Ravi, Saggian Park 1, Jallo Botanical Garden, Canal Road (Harbanspura to Fatehgarh), Jallo to BRB Canal, Tajbagh, Triangle Park near the railway station, Sher Shah Block Park, Garden Town, Main Park of Shadman Market, Wasa Office, Shadman, Gulshan-i-Ravi Park, Gulshan-i-Iqbal Park, Kareem Block and Moon Market parks in Allama Iqbal Town, Ayubia Market Park, Muslim Town, B-1 Block Park, Johar Town, International Market M-block, Model Town Extension, Canal Road, greenbelt Fatehgarh to Harbanspura, Circular Garden, Rewaz Garden, Family Park, Faisal Town, Qainchi Park Ferozepur Road, Greater Iqbal Park, G-1 Market Johar Town, Begum Kot Triangle Shahdara and Halloki interchange.

The Miyawaki technique is also being adopted by India, Malaysia, Italy, Sri Lanka and France. The method involves seven steps of soil preparation, including excavation of soil up to three feet, filling of canal silt up to two feet, addition of farmyard manure and bagasse up to four inches each, shredding rice husk/wheat straw/corn husk/ground nutshell, plantation, irrigation and mulching rice straws and grass etc.

Miyawaki forest is self-perpetuating and maintenance-free.

“Six forests have already been developed. Work on 41 sites is underway and the work on the four would start soon,” Mr Qureshi said and added the private sector had helped the PHA develop six forests in the city.

He said the land measuring over 153 kanal was being used for Miyawaki forests development where over 160,000 saplings/trees would be planted.

Published in Dawn, February 10th, 2021