American Planning Association
Miyawaki mini forests are catching on in the U.S. Alexandra Ionescu, associate director of regenerative projects at Biodiversity for a Livable Climate in Cambridge, Massachusetts, helped organize the first Northeast Miniforest Summit this past summer. With more than 500 registrants, the two-day symposium brought together educators, scientists, local government officials, volunteers, and others with an interest in mini forests to share insights about how to increase the use of the Miyawaki method.
“It is wonderful to see people coming to the planting day with so much excitement,” Ionescu says. “They come back to see the progress of the trees they helped plant and form this connection with place.”
Ionescu sees a potential role for planners to identify suitable mini forest sites, one of the largest challenges. Other mini forest programs have been launched by the Natural Urban Forests in Seattle, Washington; Urban Pocket Forest, Berkeley, California; and LA Microforests, Los Angeles.
Posted: October 17, 2025