Roosevelt Island creates NYC’s first Miyawaki pocket forest

The Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) in collaboration with SUGi, iDig2Learn, and the Lenape Centre, have planted the first “pocket forest” in New York City on Roosevelt Island.

The new “Manhattan Healing Forest”, located in Roosevelt Island’s Southpoint Park, includes more than 1,000 native trees and shrubs planted together in close proximity over 2,700 square feet of space.

Ecological sustainability

The Lenape Centre supports projects to restore and regenerate ecosystems while iDig2Learn aims to connect those living in cities with nature. SUGi has created around 200 pocket forests in cities around the world.

This method of planting, known as the “Miyawaki method”, creates dense, biodiverse forests that improve climate resilience and overall ecological sustainability in the areas where they are planted.

 This nature-based solution to ecosystem loss, climate change, and inequitable access to green space depends upon native plant species working in collaboration; in parallel, many local organisations are also joining in to support the project with in-kind donations.

“RIOC hopes this new forest, with its unique method of planting in a relatively small space, can serve as a model for other urban centres that are looking to improve their overall biodiversity and ecological sustainability”

For instance, the project received large donations of nutrient-rich compost from Big Reuse’s community food scrap programme and wood chips from Green-Wood Cemetery grounds.

“RIOC hopes this new forest, with its unique method of planting in a relatively small space, The Lenape Centre supports projects to restore and regenerate ecosystems while iDig2Learn aims to connect those living in cities with nature.ove their overall biodiversity and ecological sustainability,” said Gerrald Ellis, deputy counsel and co-interim leader for the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation.

“Thank you to Christina (iDig2Learn), Elise (SUGi), our RIOC grounds team, and everyone in the community who came together to bring this wonderful project to life.”