The Miyawaki forestation method has been championed in Thailand for 34 years. To date, 61 forests have been established nationwide, each clearly demonstrating that a fully grown forest can be created in just 10 years, dramatically faster than the 200 years needed for natural regeneration. At Rai Chern Tawan, for example, notable biodiversity emerged within a single year by prioritizing local, native saplings. This proximity to nature, known globally as "forest bathing" (Shinrin-yoku), promotes mental well-being and stress reduction—the tangible fruits of the Miyawaki method.

Phra Metheevachirodom (V. Vajiramedhi) gave a Dharma talk at the Sustainability Expo 2025 (SX) in late September. He highlighted the 34-year success of the Miyawaki afforestation in Thailand, suggesting this method holds significant promise in resolving the world's environmental crisis.

The Environmental Crisis Through the Lens of the Four Noble Truths

V. Vajiramedhi analyzed the environmental crisis through the lens of the Buddhist Four Noble Truths (Ariyasacca). He identified the world’s current "suffering" (Dukkha) as climate volatility, the drying up of Himalayan glacial lakes, and the PM 2.5 dust pollution, which caused 37,000 allergy-related illnesses last November alone.

He also cited the crisis in Chiang Rai Province, which recently experienced its worst flooding in 100 years, coupled with water contamination from over 22 gold mines polluting the Kok River, Sai River, Ruak River, and the Mekong River, crippling water-based tourism.

"If we had to summarize the reason why the world is sick, the short answer is 'unsustainable development'," he stated. "We deplete the soil and the skies, catering to human desires without considering the side effects."

The Disease of Modern Civilization

V. Vajiramedhi linked the environmental problem to a "civilization disease" stemming from an alienation from nature, particularly social media addiction, which breeds rudeness and societal stress. He noted that doctors in Japan are now prescribing a new kind of "medicine": sending some patients to art galleries instead of routine painkillers.

His proposed solution is to "go easy on the world" and shift attitudes from "conquering nature" to "coexisting with nature as a true friend." He urged moving beyond anthropocentrism to the understanding that "all things are interdependent; one thing exists because another exists; everything is interconnected."

Hope from the Miyawaki Forest

Dr. Sirin Kaewla-iad and Dr. Anong Kaewla-iad, a husband-and-wife academic team specializing in ecosystem restoration, introduced the Miyawaki concept to Thailand 34 years ago, having received the knowledge from the late Japanese botanist, Prof. Dr. Akira Miyawaki, who passed away three years ago.

Prof. Dr. Miyawaki spent 10 years surveying and studying plant species across Japan, compiling a plant encyclopedia. He discovered that while natural forest recovery takes 200 years, his method could create a forest in just 10 years—a forest that could potentially last for 9,000 years.

Dr. Anong revealed that the United Nations (UN) and the G20 countries, in the Yokohama Declaration, endorsed the creation of the "Miyawaki Forest" as a global reforestation strategy.

61 Success Stories in Thailand

"Currently, 61 forests have been planted across Thailand, and every site clearly demonstrates that we can establish a forest within 10 years," stated Dr. Anong.

At Rai Chern Tawan, one of the pilot sites, significant biodiversity was visibly achieved within one year by focusing on native species suitable for the local environment.

Key Techniques of the Miyawaki Method

Dr. Sirin explained that the key highlights of the method are:

• Species Selection: Only native species grown from seed should be used to ensure strong taproots, avoiding short-lived mature transplanted trees.

• Soil Preparation: Tilling the soil to make it loose and friable, and potentially adding fertilizer to increase fertility.

• Dense Planting: Planting 3-4 saplings per square meter, mixing species, including both canopy trees and understory plants, to create at least three distinct structural layers.

• Seedling Care: Before planting, saplings in black bags must be dipped in water; the hole must be dug five times larger than the sapling's container, and the soil must be firmly pressed around the roots.

Forest Bathing: The Fruit of Afforestation

"When people enter these forests, a practice known as 'forest bathing,' which is a current global trend, their minds reconnect more closely with nature, reducing stress. These are the fruits of the Miyawaki afforestation method," V. Vajiramedhi concluded.