The Healing Power of Forests: The Philosophy Behind Restoring Earth's Balance with Native Trees

by Akira Miyawaki, Elgene O. Box

The Healing Power of Forests describes the successful techniques used to recreate depleted forests, whether near factory sites, parking lots, or even the Great Wall of China, on the basis of environmental studies. The book challenges us to plant 'native forests of native trees' to increase the chances for achieving a sustainable way of life before it is too late.

Genres: Nature, Philosophy, Gardening, Nonfiction, Environment, Agriculture

294 pages, Paperback

First published September 15, 2007

About the author

Akira Miyawaki (宮脇 昭, Miyawaki Akira, born 29 January 1928) is a Japanese botanist and expert in plant ecology, specializing in seeds and the study of natural forests. He is active worldwide as a specialist in the restoration of natural vegetation on degraded land. Since 1993, he has been Professor Emeritus at Yokohama National University and Director of the Japanese Center for International Studies in Ecology. He received the Blue Planet Prize in 2006.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akira_M...

Reviews

[Chinchilla · Rating 2 out of 5]

I learned about Professor Akira Miyawaki and his reforestation method through a TED talk "An engineer's vision for tiny forests, everywhere" by Shubhendu Sharma. (https://www.ted.com/talks/shubhendu_s...) I was very intrigued by Professor Miyawaki's work and was eager to read more about it. This book, though, was somewhat of a disappointment because I was expecting more case studies and featured projects in detail rather than theories and philosophy behind his method.

The first three chapters cover very basic forest ecology. Anyone with fundamental knowledge to environmental science or ecology would find it boring. Chapter four and five get into theories and methods for sustainable reforestation and project examples. I really enjoyed those two chapters. The epilogue was more or less on climate change, policy making, and philosophical reflections on human-environment relationships. I am familiar with most of the discussions covered in the epilogue and found it rather uninspiring.

Even though this book was not what I was hoping it to be, I still wish to read more on Professor Miyawaki's work. I think his work itself is not only inspiring but makes sense (I can't use the word "innovative" here). For people who have never read much on this subject, this book could be a good start. The only slight inconvenience is that all the plant species and vegetation mentioned in this book are native varieties to Japan. Readers from other parts of the world might find it difficult to relate. This is a 2-star book for me.

[Pia Elworthy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A phenomenal book detailing Miyawaki's works and his system of recreating forests within urban dead zones. This book also details how easy it is to create a mature forest within two decades, as he has done many times over across the globe. Miyawaki also points out the environmental problems man has created by leveling natural forests and how these situations can be rectified.

[Daniel Raab]

I'am from Chile, My City is Quilpué , near Valparaiso. We have a Mediterraneam climate. Each year we have minimun rain and our natural forest ( Bosque Esclerófilo ) beguin to desapear.
we must inmediatily to plant ours interesting biodiversity. I think , probably with Miyawaki méthod
we can do something. The desert from de North of my Country comes.
( excuse me my poor English )

[Tasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

The epilogue in this book is outstanding. I wish I would have simply read it over and over.

[Jeyannathann · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Must Read for any who is passionate about greening spaces, for this book gives you case studies and examples in Japan, of how scientific greening practices have actually helped Industries contrary to the view of many.