AUSTIN (KXAN) – St. Edward’s University has planted a “tiny forest” in Austin to serve as a proof-of-concept model for urban climate resiliency. The project is designed to show communities how small, densely planted areas can combat heat islands and provide shade in overdeveloped urban spaces.
The forest, based on the Miyawaki Method, is a concept created in Japan during the 1970s. Approximately 3,000 such forests have been established worldwide.
Roy Johnson, the University Arborist at St. Edward’s University, said the Austin project was initiated after a successful collaboration with Texan by Nature and HEB to plant shade trees at a local bus stop.
New trees at bus stops installed with smart devices
“It worked so well,” Johnson said. “Everyone was happy with it. And we decided to try and do something again. So I said, why not a tiny forest?”…