- Blog
- December 20, 2024
“The Heat Island Effect’. A phenomenon where dense human activity, infrastructure, traffic and concretisation create pockets of severely heightened temperatures in urban spaces. Cities that lack green pockets are experiencing this uncomfortable but inevitable occurrence.
The solution is right in front of us. Regulating local microclimate is the first step in counteracting the rise in urban temperatures, and the most viable and sustainable option is to reinstate what existed before everything else: forests.
Â
Homegrown forests are taking the world by storm. Eco-conscious realty companies are adopting natural afforestation techniques, such as the Miyawaki method of rapid cultivation, to create fast forests. Not only do they regulate temperatures around their developments, but they also contribute to healthier air and soil qualities in the nearby vicinity.
The Urban Heat Island Effect
Our cities absorb and retain heat because of big concrete, asphalt, and metal surface requirements. The retention of heat, known as the urban heat island effect, leads to temperature increases that can be several degrees higher than in nearby non-urbanised areas. These changes affect everything from energy consumption and air quality to public health and infrastructure maintenance. Traditional solutions, such as air conditioning, add to the heat problem by consuming energy and releasing additional heat. In this context, natural methods of temperature reduction, such as creating dense forests, are emerging as sustainable alternatives.
Â
Above: Image of Atlanta, Georgia, showing temperature distribution, with blue showing cool temperatures, red warm, and hot areas appear white.| NASA, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
How Do Homegrown Forests Regulate Microclimate?
Our homegrown forest, planted using the Miyawaki method, reduces temperatures by approximately four degrees Celsius in its immediate area. This Japanese technique, pioneered by botanist Dr. Akira Miyawaki, emphasises building a multilayered, diverse mixture of native species to simulate a natural forest. While a Miyawaki forest can not replace the ecological role of natural forests, it can serve as a habitat for insects, birds, and fruiting and flowering trees.
Unlike typical urban landscaping, these forests do not undergo ecological succession. They grow rapidly, reaching maturity in as little as 20 years, and yield substantial sustainability benefits, such as carbon sequestration, soil improvement, and habitat creation.
The temperature-lowering effect of a Miyawaki-style forest stems from its multilayered structure. Trees with varying heights form a canopy that blocks direct sunlight, creating a shaded area with lower surface temperatures. This shade reduces the ground temperature and slows the evaporation of moisture from the soil, making mulch, which sustains cooler, humid conditions underneath the canopy. A mature homegrown forest has a substantial amount of biomass that, combined with increased soil moisture, releases a cooling effect into the surrounding air. For instance, trees release moisture through transpiration, where water absorbed by roots eventually evaporates from leaves. This effect can lower the temperature in the vicinity, resulting in a self-regulating microclimate. Even in summer, a Miyawaki forest keeps its region cooler than the city by at least 4°C.Â
A Miyawaki forest in India – 9 months after planting
BemanHerish, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Homegrown Forests in Urban Residencial Real Estate
Green urban planning is a goldmine of possibilities for bettering people’s lives. The Miyawaki method benefits regions with high urbanisation by blending cramped spaces with nature to make them healthier and more beautiful. Integrating a homegrown forest into an urban residential real estate development not only provides a constantly appreciating selling point but also a practical solution to mitigate the urban heat island effect.
Â
Stonecraft Group’s approach highlights the use of native flora and multilayered planting to ensure that their forests resemble the structure and biodiversity of a natural forest. By choosing indigenous plants, these forests become more resilient, less prone to pests and diseases, and more likely to survive long-term without requiring heavy maintenance or artificial inputs like fertilisers. This model can inspire other urban developers to consider green spaces not as decorative elements but as essential infrastructure for climate resilience and environmental health.
Â
Climate-conscious methods are paramount for afforestation efforts to support climate resilience and human succession. The Miyawaki technique, combined with agroforestry and rewilding, offers sustainable, localised carbon sequestration solutions. Afforestation methods prioritising indigenous plant species and focusing on biodiverse habitats will stabilise local climates and ensure residents experience gradual and consistent seasons.
StonecraftÂ
Stonecraft Group is a multidisciplinary realty firm developing eco-conscious projects. We want to develop projects that put nature at the centre of our plans and do not limit it to being just an aesthetic fixture. Painstaking research, documentation, and implementation go into all our ventures – from farm plots to our upcoming boutique residences and offices.
CCA designs a sustainable sanctuary blending Oaxacan tradition & Japanese philosophy
4-Degree Drop from the City: How a Homegrown Forest Can Regulate Microclimate
Archiopteryx designs ’people tree house’ nurturing a coexistence between the humans and non-human inhabitants
