NIT-Trichy to extend Miyawaki forest to more spots on campus

Trichy: The National Institute of Technology (NIT) Trichy is planning to extend the Miyawaki plantation plantation to a few more spots in the campus with intent to rejuvenate water ponds.

Miyawaki is a technique pioneered by the Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki for urban afforestation. Under this technique various native species of plants are planted close to each other, which ensures their growth upwards is rapid by receiving sunlight from the top.

Three months after the seedlings were sown close to each other, the vacant land near lecture hall – Orion-- has over 6-feet tall green cover. Another land where this forest was developed is also showing progress.

“It was surprising to find the green cover growing in such short period, which is irrigated using drip irrigation. Butterflies have started coming to this piece of land besides birds,” said Mini Shaji Thomas, director of NIT-Trichy.

We have a couple of ponds inside the campus, which store water for short period of time in a year. We are planning to take up Miyawaki plantation around the pond with an aim to ensure water storage throughout the year. This could be possible as dense Miyawaki forest will help store water under the soil, she said.