Microforests: Rapid Ecological Restoration Through Dense Native Planting

Key Quotes

"But once you start having the canopy connect that starts to be what we imagine as a forest we have this kind of blockage of the sunlight but also a forest has layers canopies of trees with layers of plants beneath them so in that way a microforest does simulate a natural forest"

Damian Willett, an associate professor of biology, explains that a microforest is considered a forest because its tree canopies connect, creating shade, and it possesses multiple layers of plant life beneath the canopy. This structure, according to Willett, mimics that of a natural forest.

"Ecologists use local plants to help restore biodiversity to the area so for example los angeles is prone to droughts so there's lots of drought tolerant native plants in the microforest i went to like southern california black walnut and blue elderberry but in other places ecologists would use different types of plants"

Rachel Carlson highlights that ecologists select native, locally appropriate plants for microforests to enhance biodiversity in the area. Carlson notes that in Los Angeles, drought-tolerant species like Southern California black walnut and blue elderberry are chosen, while different plants would be used in other regions.

"Well a forest isn't just trees it's a bunch of different species with different roles from roots and soil to shrubs to those tall canopy trees that you might think of when you think of a forest so that's how microforests are planted too with dense layers of different kinds of plants so you're kind of planting a whole ecosystem at one time instead of waiting for nature to kind of go through succession step by step to get eventually to a forest it's planting the whole forest at one moment"

Willett describes the planting process for microforests, emphasizing that they are not just trees but a complete ecosystem with various species at different levels, from roots to canopy. Willett explains that this method involves planting the entire ecosystem simultaneously, rather than waiting for natural succession to create a forest over time.

"And another amazing thing about a microforest compared to a much larger forest is the size allows researchers like damian and catherine to use it as a science experiment yeah you said the microforest is like a quarter of an acre 10 000 square feet and right next to it there's another plot of land exactly the same size except it's brown it's filled with invasive weeds catherine and damian aren't planting anything there so they can directly compare the plots and see what kinds of insects and birds and other critters show up to each one"

Carlson points out that the smaller scale of microforests makes them ideal for scientific research, allowing scientists like Willett and Pokerdunny to conduct experiments. Carlson explains that by comparing a microforest to an adjacent, unplanted plot filled with weeds, researchers can directly observe and study the biodiversity attracted to each area.

"Apparently they're like nature's dna swabs spiderwebs are kind of a filter for the air and as animals move through the environment they're shedding skin cells and metabolic waste that floats in the air that sticks to the spiderwebs so then we came out here we collected spiderwebs and washed the dna off those spiderwebs and then got an idea of what are all the animals moving through here within the last 24 to 48 hours using genetic tools"

Willett describes spiderwebs as natural DNA collectors that filter airborne particles, including skin cells and waste shed by animals. Willett explains that by collecting and analyzing DNA from these spiderwebs, researchers can identify the animals that have passed through the microforest within a recent timeframe.

"His lab expects that to increase to over 50 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year in the next two decades and that's more than the emissions of 10 suvs okay this microforest is doing its part plus it's cooling the neighborhood it's providing food the again the the insects the wildlife that's here it also helps bring people into nature even in the short time i was with catherine and damian a few people walked by and asked questions about the microforest"

Carlson reports that Willett's lab projects the microforest will sequester over 50 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually within two decades, exceeding the emissions of ten SUVs. Carlson adds that beyond carbon sequestration, the microforest also cools the neighborhood, supports wildlife, and encourages human interaction with nature.