On Wednesday, October 18, the Town of Pincourt, in collaboration with Arbre-Évolution, brought its latest environmental commitment project to life: the planting of its very first Miyawaki-type forest in Olympic Park.
What is the Miyawaki method? Inspired by the eponymous Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki, the Miyawaki method has already proved its worth in several cities in Quebec and Europe. It involves the creation of a resilient micro-forest in the heart of the city. In all, almost 600 trees of 10 different species will be planted on a 220 square metre grassy plot in Olympic Park.
This innovative method calls for a planting density of 3 trees per square metre, with an emphasis on native species to encourage rapid growth. In just a few years, this micro-forest will develop into a mature forest ecosystem, helping to combat climate change.
This major and ambitious initiative in Pincourt required the active participation of numerous volunteers, municipal employees and school groups. Its aim was to develop biodiversity, create urban ecological corridors and strengthen the resilience of the local ecosystem.
"The planting of the Miyawaki Forest at Olympic Park is an important step in our commitment to environmental sustainability. We are delighted to be working with Arbre-Évolution, Pincourt schools and our volunteers to create a natural space that will benefit future generations and help combat climate change. Since 2022, the Pincourt municipal council has committed to planting one hundred (100) trees per year for five (5) years. This new micro-forest will contribute to achieving this important objective for our Town", explains Pincourt Mayor Claude Comeau.
Christopher Massé, environmental advisor for the Town of Pincourt, and his colleagues came up with the idea for this project last spring. Since then, all municipal departments have contributed. "We were looking for a way to replace the numerous ash trees felled due to disease, and the trees that suffered the vagaries of the weather during the winter season and last April's ice storm", he said when met a few feet from where the hundreds of trees were about to be planted.
Many advantages
Olympic Park is the ideal location for this type of project. Why?" Firstly, because we had the space to plant this micro-forest in this green space. Secondly, because during heavy downpours or when the snow melts in the spring, water will accumulate in the park and can be absorbed by the new trees. Thirdly, because it will create a sound and plant screen for nearby residences. This is the first phase of a pilot project, which we hope will be followed by many others in Pincourt", adds Mr. Massé.
When mature, some of the trees in the micro-forest will grow to a height of 20 metres. In two years, shoots of 3 or 4 centimetres grow to 4 metres. "In other projects we've worked on, we've noticed that after 10 or 15 years, holes are created in a few places. We can then put a bench there so that people can take part and let themselves be immersed in this unique place. We hope people will make it their own", says Simon from Arbre-Évolution.
Interestingly, maintenance will be carried out by the Town of Pincourt's public works team, while weeding will be entrusted to the microforest's guardians, the students of Notre-Dame-de-Lorette school. "It's a project that brings people together, and one that should undoubtedly be repeated in phase 2 elsewhere on our territory", concluded Christoph Massé.