Making a Mini-Forest: participatory science afforestation across the globe

“Making a Mini-Forest,” a documentary film directed by Angelina Lee, showcases the wonders of the Miyawaki method in action. The method, developed by Akira Miyawaki, utilizes biodiversity to address afforestation by planting dense, fast-growing miniature forests informed by native vegetation. The film was screened on July 15 as part of the 2026 Northeast Mini-Forest Summit, hosted by Biodiversity for a Livable Climate, an eco-restoration non-profit based in the Boston area.  

The documentary takes place predominately in western Europe, highlighting different organizations building mini-forests. Lee was inspired by the book “Mini-Forest Revolution,” by Hannah Lewis, and filmed over the course of several years. It toggles between France, the Netherlands, and England while contextualizing their use of Miyawaki methodology by describing Miyawaki’s ecological activism in Japan. Some of these organizations even established mini-forests globally. 

The film uses significant B-roll, one-on-one interviews, and detail shots to keep the viewers engaged. It takes great care to emphasize the role of community in each mini-forest inception.  

The 80 min film made a point to mention the lengths organizers go to select the right plots of land. At least one of the organizations mentioned selecting plots of land in urban neighborhoods that may not already have much access to nature. They collaborate with landowners and farmers to ensure the area will be untouched for several decades after initial plantings, and consult local botanists and indigenous groups to determine which species to prioritize. They carefully study native forest organizations and pair species that coexist well.  

The groups shown in “Making a Mini-Forest” engage hundreds of locals to populate these plots, covering the small areas very quickly. Multiple interviewees mentioned opportunities to engage children, emphasizing that the forests are for the future. According to participants, once planted, these mini-forests need very little upkeep (aside from one mini-forest enthusiast using sheep wool to ward off deer from consuming the new growth). Additionally, they use them to collect data on biodiversity.  

In particular, the documentary highlighted measurements of temperature, wind speed, and arthropod presence. Mini-forest organizers further engage participants by encouraging the citizen scientists to collect this information, which may then be used to encourage future mini-forest projects. One technique included laying down carpet tiles in the soil. Citizen scientists lift the carpet, counting the arthropods underneath.  

The Questions 

By the end, viewers are left with a variety of questions regarding the practicality of the projects, which perhaps was the purpose of the screening. For example:  

How might one go about starting a project in their own town? What sort of policies are required in any given city to allow for these sorts of projects? What sort of approval does one need to select a plot of land?  

What sort of funding is available for these sorts of projects?  

How do organizers approach mini-forests in each city? How does one differ in Chile versus the Netherlands? Are there additional difficulties in one versus the other? 

Is having a mini-forest with only dense underbrush truly the best route, or should there be more herbaceous biodiversity? Why? 

One voice not well represented, or at least not well specified if represented, were the citizen scientists involved in these projects. What did the participants learn? What was their feedback? How likely were they to return to the organization for future projects once the original forests gained momentum? 

Each mini-forest is deeply specific to each place. It requires great care and collaboration, urging community members to work together when establishing these sites. The film articulates that if done incorrectly, they provide further fodder for invasive species. It also requires willing municipalities, which appear to be amenable in Western European countries. Very little was shown about what truly goes into the planning as well as any technical aspects or challenges in plantings, and the abundance of organizations mentioned made it difficult to learn much about any given one.  

“Collaboration is key to realizing a project like [these],” said Hannah Lewis, the narrator and author of the book that inspired the documentary. 

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Sofia Baah

Sofia Baah is a master’s student in the School of Journalism at Northeastern University’s College of Arts, Media and Design (CAMD) and a Marketing, Communications, and Events Coordinator in the Bioengineering Department at Northeastern University. She is passionate about accessible science and sustainability, with interests in science writing, science education, conservation, nonprofit work, and the biological sciences.