Why A Miniforest Summit? Why Now?
​Across the Northeast, communities face ecological disruption—rising temperatures, shrinking habitats, degraded soils, and stormwater runoff. But there’s growing momentum: more people are planting miniforests using the Miyawaki Method—or adapting it—to restore life to cities, schoolyards, parks, and vacant lots.
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Featuring more than a dozen speakers across two virtual half-days and an in-person bus tour, the 2025 Northeast Miniforest Summit brings together practitioners, researchers, and leaders from diverse fields—including landscape architects, scientists, and community organizers—to unpack the method from root to canopy.
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Miniforests are more than trees—they amplify a web of relationships. This summit plants seeds for stronger connections, collective action, and resilient ecosystems. It’s a response to the energy of those eager to help restore Earth, and a step toward a shared path forward rooted in collaboration.
What is a Miniforest?
The Miyawaki method of afforestation, pioneered by Dr. Akira Miyawaki, creates fast-growing, dense, diverse and multilayered miniforests composed of native trees and shrubs that can be planted in as little as 1000 sq ft through expedited ecological succession and soil preparation.
These miniforests require just three years of maintenance—watering, mulching, and weeding—before becoming self-sustaining.
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They cultivate biodiversity, improve air quality, mitigate stormwater runoff, store carbon, reduce the heat island effect in asphalt-dominated areas, and more.
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Most importantly, they empower communities to become stewards of living systems in their own neighborhoods, cultivating ecological literacy and a deeper appreciation for native ecology.​
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Watch this video to learn more:
Photo by Cassandra Klos/SUGi
Summit Goals
By advancing the adoption of the Miyawaki method of afforestation in the Northeast U.S., this summit will:
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Cultivate peer-to-peer learning & knowledge sharing
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Encourage & facilitate the exchange of best practices, experiences, challenges, resources and lessons learned
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Identify knowledge and resource gaps
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Focus on the practicalities of making a miniforest a reality
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Unpack the Miyawaki method
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Stimulate scientific inquiry and research to explore new questions, generate data, and deepen understanding of above- and below-ground ecological processes
At its heart, the summit also seeks to cultivate community, curiosity, openness to experimentation, and a sense of hope—amplifying the transformative power of working with, rather than against, the web of life.​​​
Who is the Summit For?
From a seasoned forest maker who has already planted several forests, to a public official focused on cultivating biodiversity in their district — from city arborists and urban planners restoring concrete-dominated landscapes, to community members just beginning to learn about ecology — everyone will have something to glean from this summit and something to share with our community.​
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While this summit is specifically tailored to the ecosystems of the Northeastern United States, we welcome those from other regions both national and international to attend our virtual programs.​​
Schedule
Day 1: Thursday, July 24, 2025
12 pm - 4:30 pm ET | Zoom​
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Overview of Bio4Climate's Miyawaki Forest Program & The Miniforest as a Microcosm for Learning How Nature Works
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The Miyawaki Method: Past, Present, Future
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Stories from the Field: Miniforests in Cities, Schools, and Farms in Northeast U.S.
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Story Share Circles & Networking (Breakout Rooms)
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From Asphalt to Miniforest: Transforming Impervious Surfaces to Manage Stormwater Runoff, Flooding and the Heat Island Effect​
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Using the Miyawaki Method to Empower Agroecology and Food Forestry
Day 2: Friday, July 25, 2025
9 am - 2 pm ET | Zoom​
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Miniforests as a Part of the Homegrown National Park
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Scientific Research (Current and Emerging) around Miniforests in Northeast U.S.
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A Brief Discussion on the Life-Cycle of a Miniforest Project: Initiating, Creating, Stewarding & Educating
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Story Share Circles & Networking (Breakout Rooms)
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The Miyawaki Method vs. Ecology of Place: The Importance of Experimentation and Curiosity in Canada’s Mini Forest Network​​​​
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Featured Keynote Speakers, Panelists & Presenters
A diverse group of keynote speakers, presenters, and panelists will offer valuable expertise during the summit. We're excited to introduce some of them:
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Hannah Lewis, Author of the Mini-Forest Revolution and Project Manager at Renewing the Countryside
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Douglas Tallamy, Co-Founder of the Homegrown National Park, Renowned Author, Entomologist and Ecologist
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Heather Schibili, Assistant Professor, School of Environmental Design and Rural Development, University of Guelph and Administrator at the Network of Nature
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Caseylee Basteian, RLA Landscape Architect at the BSC Group
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Bram Gunther, VP of Science and Development at Plan It Wild
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Mary Ellen Lemay, Landowner Engagement Director at Aspetuck Land Trust
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Max Rome, Senior Stormwater Program Manager for the Charles River Watershed Association
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Nicholas Geron, Assistant professor in the Department of Geography and Sustainability at Salem State University
Check back in mid June for the complete list of speakers.
Bus Tour
The virtual summit will be complemented by a bus tour to four different mini forests in Massachusetts. Check back in mid June for more information and registration.
How to Connect With The Community
As part of the summit, we are setting up a virtual platform on Mighty Networks to build a strong miniforest-maker community, and compiling a FREE Northeast Miniforests Guide to enhance knowledge sharing and increase visibility within the community.
Check back in mid June for more information on these resources.
Are you managing a miniforest in the Northeast that you would like to be a part of the guide? Please contact us at miniforests@bio4climate.org to request the survey form.