What is a microforest?
Microforests are a planting technique based on Akira Miyawaki’s afforestation method. They start with a dense planting of diverse species of tree seedlings, which promotes competition among them. In just a few years these grow into small, dense forests promoting biodiversity in urban areas and connecting communities with nature.
Thanks to the generous support of TD Bank for the first two microforests on The Underline.
Location
Each microforest is easily accessible from The Underline’s trails, and will be located throughout the 10 miles of the linear park. Designed to grow in spaces the size of a tennis court, the microforests will support the return of many pollinator species to the park, creating an urban oasis in the heart of Miami.
In total, there will be
- 24 microforests
- 23,980 native saplings
- 46,725 total sq. ft. of forest
Benefits
- Grow 10 times faster and 30 times denser than traditional afforestation methods
- Enhance biodiversity 20 times the levels of traditional forests
- Improve air quality
- Lower temperature in urban areas naturally
- Reduce stormwater runoff
- Increase carbon sequestration
- Provide opportunities for youth in an urban setting to learn about forests
Community Forest Coordinator Celeste Maillard and staff member in the first microforest.
What will be planted?
Our microforests will be full of tree and shrub species native to our hardwood hammock ecosystems. Planted in layers, these plants will grow well together, creating a paradise for pollinator species to flourish.
Canopy (6 Species)
- Strangler Fig, Ficus aurea
- Wild Banyan-tree, Ficus citrifolia
- Gumbo Limbo, Bursera simaruba
- Wild Mastic, Sideroxylon foetidissimum
- Paradise Tree, Simarouba glauca
- Southern Live Oak, Quercus virginiana
Tree Layer (6 Species)
- Black Ironwood, Krugiodendron ferreum
- Satinleaf, Chrysophyllum oliviforme
- Sabal Palm, Sabal palmetto
- Crabwood, Gymnanthes lucida
- Jamaican Dogwood, Piscidia piscipula
- Wild Cinnamon, Canella winterana
Subtree Layer (8 Species)
- Willow-Bustic, Sideroxylon salicifolium
- Simpson’s Stopper, Myrcianthes fragrans
- Spanish Stopper, Eugenia foetida
- Dahoon Holly, Ilex cassine
- Krug’s Holly, Ilex krugiana
- Malberry, Ardisia escallonioides
- White Indigo Berry, Randia aculeata
- Limber Caper, Cynophalla flexuosa
Shrub Layer (10 Species)
- Florida Privet, Forestiera segregata
- Bahama Wild Coffee, Psychotria ligustrifolia
- Shiny-Leaf Wild Coffee, Psychotria nervosa
- Coco-Plum Bush, Chrysobalanus icaco
- Wax Myrtle, Morella cerifera
- Florida Bitterbush, Picramnia pentandra
- Myrsine, Myrsine cubana
- Spicewood, Myrcia neopallens
- Running Oak, Quercus pumila
- Winged Sumac, Rhus copallinum
The layers of a microforest