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NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 20, 2022
LINK TO PHOTOS AND VIDEO FOOTAGE
CONTACT
Audrey Jonas
audrey.jonas@cookcountyil.gov
Cook County partners with Nordson Green Earth Foundation to plant first Miyawaki Forest in the Chicagoland Area
MARKHAM, IL — Today marked the planting of the first public Miyawaki tiny forest in the Chicagoland area. Made possible through a partnership between Cook County, Nordson Green Earth Foundation (NGEF), Openlands Chicago, the U.S. Forest Service, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD), the City of Markham and the Markham City Council, the “tiny forest”, measuring 20 ft by 40 ft in size, will be adjacent to the Circuit Court of Cook County's Sixth Municipal District Courthouse in Markham, Illinois. County officials greeted volunteers of the event, which included hundreds of students from Prairie Hills Junior High in Markham, Cook County staff, members of the Markham community and NGEF volunteers.
“Cook County is proud to partner with organizations doing meaningful work to add green space to our communities,” said President Preckwinkle. “The planting of the first public Miyawaki tiny forest in Cook County is a great example of the good that can come from these types of partnerships while also providing an opportunity for young people to get involved and learn more about the environment and sustainability efforts.”
Miyawaki forests use the principles and methodology developed by the late Akira Miyawaki, PhD, an award-winning Japanese professor of botany. Dr. Miyawaki’s method incorporates extensive soil preparation and dense planting in order to encourage growth and survival of the fittest plants. This pilot forest will reach maturity in approximately 20 years, rather than the centuries it can take conventional forests. As part of a lesson on composting, students from Prairie Hills Junior High donated compost to the site.
“The best forest is the forest you conserve and protect. But we hope the Miyawaki method could be a tool to add nature to spaces and communities that can benefit from environmental investment. We all need nature for our social, mental and physical health,” said Christine Diploma, Founder of NGEF.
Miyawaki forests are ideally suited for planting in small areas, which encourages biodiversity and increases tree canopy in urban areas more vulnerable to the effects of climate change and heat islands.
“Our region’s tree canopy and native plants face impending threats including invasive pests, flooding, climate change, and competing invasive tree species. The addition of this Miyawaki forest is a clever and innovative way to create an urban forest, while beautifying our public spaces, improving air quality, and attracting local birds and insects. Through this collaboration between Cook County and Nordson Green Earth Foundation, we’re creating a beautiful community space while combating climate change. It’s a big idea in a modest footprint," said Cook County Commissioner Bridget Degnen.
The Markham Miyawaki tiny forest will contain 310 native plants, including trees, shrubs and perennials, made up of 25 distinct native species. Native plants support soil health, mitigate flooding and attract pollinators.
“We are excited for the opportunity to provide MWRD’s EQ compost for the planting of this tiny forest in the City of Markham in partnership with Nordson Green Earth,” said MWRD Commissioner Kimberly Du Buclet. “This community tree planting effort allows MWRD to provide residents with free tree saplings to take home so they can plant in their respective homes. Every tree that is planted in our community on average is able to capture 2,800 gallons of rainfall per year which is a significant amount as we address the challenges of climate change.”
Additional information about Nordson Green Earth Foundation and its efforts to plant Miyawaki forests is available by contacting Sheetal Khedkar Rao, MS, MD, Chief Health Officer, Nordson Green Earth Foundation at sheetal@nordsongreenearth.org or by visiting https://www.nordsongreenearth.org/.
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Cook County is the second largest county in the United States representing 5.2 million residents in Illinois. The President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners is the chief executive officer (CEO) of Cook County and oversees the Offices Under the President and presides as president of the Forest Preserves of Cook County.
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