UPSC Prelims 2022 Q50: Environment & Ecology – Sustainable Agriculture & Forestry
The "Miyawaki method" is well known for the :
- (a) Promotion of commercial farming in arid and semi - arid areas
- (b) Development of gardens using genetically modified flora
- (c) Creation of mini forests in urban areas
- (d) Harvesting wind energy on coastal areas and on sea surfaces
Answer: (c) Creation of mini forests in urban areas
Explanation
The Miyawaki method
Developed by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki in the 1970s, it creates dense native forests on small plots.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Planting density | 3-5 saplings per square metre |
| Species | Only native trees, shrubs and ground cover |
| Growth speed | About 10 times faster than a normal plantation |
| Self-sustaining | Needs care for only 2-3 years |
| Best for | Urban spaces, school yards, roadsides |
Cities such as Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Mumbai have used it to build urban mini forests.
Answer: (c) Creation of mini forests in urban areas.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Miyawaki forests are native, non-commercial woodlands, not dryland farming.
- (b) Incorrect. The method uses native species, never genetically modified plants.
- (c) CORRECT. Miyawaki plants dense native saplings to grow mini forests quickly in cities.
- (d) Incorrect. It is a forestry technique with no link to wind energy.
Key point
Miyawaki method = dense native-species planting (3-5 per sq m) to grow urban mini forests about 10 times faster.
Remember
Miyawaki = mini urban forest from dense native saplings.
Common mistakes
- Thinking the method uses exotic or GM species for fast growth; it insists on native species.
- Linking a Japanese name to technology such as wind energy instead of botany.
- Confusing Miyawaki with agroforestry, which mixes trees and crops for income.
Exam tip
Native + dense + small plot = Miyawaki.
Sources
- Akira Miyawaki — 'The Healing Power of Forests' (2006)
- Press Information Bureau — Urban forestry and Nagar Van Yojana