Did You Know... Pocket Forests can Help Boost the Local Ecosystem?
December 3, 2024 by Olivia Olson
What is a pocket forest?
When someone mentions forests, what comes to mind? You might think of large swaths of land covered with trees and other plants, perhaps older wooded ecosystems that have been around for decades or centuries. However, there is another type of forest that has gained traction over the past couple of decades, called pocket forests. This type of high-density forest was developed to be implemented on small scales - parcels (or “pockets”) of land anywhere from the size of a parking spot to a backyard, or larger if the land is available. They come from the work of Akira Miaywaki, a Japanese botanist who worked to create quick-growing forest ecosystems in predominantly urban areas to combat deforestation and build local climate resilience. These pocket forests consist of dense plantings of climax (final stage) native forest species, including trees, shrubs, and ground cover, that grow rapidly due to competition for resources and sunlight. This allows a final stage forest to be established in a couple of decades instead of a couple hundred years through natural succession.
Many people praise these forest plantings for their ability to quickly grow and sequester carbon, reduce runoff, build soil health, and provide habitat for an abundance of life. Since they grow so much faster than a forest would on its own, the benefits of the highly diverse native ecosystem are seen rapidly and enjoyed in areas that wouldn’t traditionally have immediate access to forests, like urban areas. After a couple of years when the pocket forests are established, there is no maintenance required as the plants are built to survive in their local climate.
How do you create a pocket forest?
Removal of any invasive species or unwanted plants in that area over the first couple of years is helpful, as is watering and mulching to give the plants the best start possible, but then it will grow and survive well on its own.
There are a variety of ways to build a pocket forest, but overall it is straightforward. One of the most important components is to ensure that you use native plants for your area, as that builds the landscape with “potential natural vegetation,” which is what would grow in the area without human intervention. A pocket forest holds about 3 plants per square meter, which is denser than a natural forest, so you can calculate the amount of plants you’ll need by knowing the amount of space you have. The minimum recommended number of plant varieties for your forest is three, but more is better. Trees, shrubs, vines, and ground cover plants should all be considered for this, and no two plants of the same species should be planted next to each other.
When planning for a pocket forest, it’s important to know about the soil and weather conditions in your area to ensure you pick plants that will grow well. How well does your soil drain? How much organic matter is there? Is it sandy, loamy, or clay soil? How much sunlight does it get per day? Some people add any needed soil amendments like mulches and compost at the time of planting their forest, while others cover the ground with cardboard and compost and let that sit for a couple of months before planting. Additionally, clearing the current vegetation out of the space before planting and weeding during the first couple years of the pocket forest’s life is vital, so that it doesn’t out-compete the native plants you’re putting in. The forests can be planted in the fall or the spring and are a great way to fill in space on a property and boost the local ecosystem.
Posted In: Did You Know Series
