1. A new noteworthy tool for improving forest
biodiversity in reforested areas: the
effectiveness of Miyawaki method in
Mediterranean reforestation programs
Federico Vessella
Department of Forest and Environment (D.A.F.), Università degli Studi della Tuscia, via S. Camillo de Lellis, 01100 Viterbo, Italy.
Thessaloniki, March 22-24 2011
8. Applications and results
Miyawaki has been succesfully
applied in several Far East
countries, (e.g. Japan, China,
Malaysia, Thailand) and in South
America (Brazil and Chile).
Experimented in thousands
hectares, Miyawaki always allows
climax vegetation achievement.
9. Advantages compared to traditional methods
After planting, any human care is not required, such
as weeding or thinning;
Undergrowth with late-successional species is
immediately on site;
Forest stand becomes quickly part of natural
ecosystem
10. Method limits
Accurate botanical and ecological analysis of sites
is need, thus specialists are required for
environmental investigations;
Manpower need is high;
Planting costs are quite expensive
11. Method restrictions – adaptability to Mediterranean climate
Some Mediterranean climate patterns
Sites where Miyawaki successed
12. Method involvement in Mediterranean environment
Miyawaki method was never tested in Mediterranean
environment, mainly because is unknown
Difficulties are linked to Mediterranean climate
characterized by summer aridity, in several cases by winter
cold, and by thin soils
Nevertheless, it could be interesting for the Mediterranean
context, because in this area complete environment
restoration takes long time
Maintenance planting cost are reduced to the first year
14. Site location
A
Sardinia - Italy
B
I.G.M. 1:25000 of Aerial view (2006)
experimental field
Municipality of Pattada
15. Project description
Site A Site B
Surface 4500 m2 c.a. 1000 m2 c.a.
Altitude a.s.l. 760 m 885 m
Slope 4° 0°
Aspect North-East Flat
Geology Granite Granite
Soil Lithic and Dystric Lithic and Dystric
Xerorthents Xerorthents
Plant number 1759 1828
Density 4000 plants/ha 18000 plants/ha
N. of species 32 17
20. Our changements to the original method
No new soil addition (20 cm labour of first pre-
existent soil)
Use of some local pioneer species (Pinus
pinaster) together with late successional ones
to improve plant community resilience
Test of different types of mulching
29. Quantitative analysis
Site A
Planted species: 28 Qualitatively 37%
Survived
all survived
Native species in not worked strips: 4
63%
Test Area closed to Site A
in a 30 years old 10 species (31,25%)
reforested zone
Test Area in a coeval
Traditional reforestation technique
reforested zone lightly 7 species (21,88%)
far from Site A
Test Area in a gradoni
reforested site 7 species (21,88%)
Quantitative analysis
Site B 19.69%
Total planted species: 23 Qualitatively Survived
Forest species: 17 7 forest sp. survived
80.31%
41. Comparison with traditional methods of reforestation
More rapid development of trees, in particular of
pioneer species
Greater richness in species, also climatic
species (Quercus ilex, Q. suber, Q. pubescens
and Ilex aquifolium are present)
44. Improvement opportunities and conclusions
Improve soil characteristics adding compost or local
vegetal material
Reducing pioneers species without excluding at all
Test for the optimal plant density
Use high quality seedlings
Reduce planting costs
Pre-Forest cultivation approach should help solving those
problems and Miyawaki method should be applied as interesting
tool for forest restoration programmes in Mediterranean countries
45. • introduce a new technology build on pre-cultivation (in mini-plugs) of
forest regeneration materials (FRM) in a cost efficient and
environmental friendly production unit not affected by outdoor climate;
• integrate these technologies into a functional system for large scale
production of pre-cultivated forest regeneration materials adapted to
transplanting and further growth at forest nurseries all over Europe
The mobile pre-cultivation unit,
adapted to a standardised
container size for transportation
on a lorry, train or boat to any
optional forest nursery.
