Mini Forests
What Is a Mini Forest?
A mini forest is a small, densely planted ecosystem designed to restore biodiversity, enrich the soil, and reconnect people with nature — all in just a few square meters.
Mini forests can grow in schoolyards, urban backyards, farms, community spaces. Thanks to the way they’re created, mini forests can even transform degraded land into flourishing ecosystems. Small in size but huge in impact, they offer nature at its most resilient.
At Biggest Mini Forest (BMF), we believe that mini forests are not just about trees — they’re about transformation. And our mission is to make them accessible, edible, and regenerative.
Mini forests also offer a direct, tangible way for people to reconnect with nature. Studies show that frequent contact with green spaces improves mental well-being, boosts immunity, and increases environmental awareness. In times of climate crisis and ecological disconnection, these spaces aren’t luxuries — they’re necessities.
Example of an mature mini forest in mediterranean climate
Why Create a Mini Forest?
Mini forests provide a host of environmental, social, and emotional benefits:
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Accelerated Biodiversity: Mini forests can grow up to 10 times faster than conventional ways of plantation, quickly creating a sanctury that attracts pollinators, birds, fungi, and wildlife.
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Improved Water Retention: Dense planting and a good soil cover with organic materials improve soil structure, reduce water loss and allows water to infiltrate deep in the soil.
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Microclimate Creation: By providing shade and cooling the air, mini forests can reduce local temperatures from at least 2°C up to 12°C, helping to combat urban heat islands.
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Soil Regeneration: Layers of organic matter, living roots and microorganisms rebuild degraded soils naturally.
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Air & Noise Regulation: They absorb microparticles from the air (up to 15%) and reduce noise levels by around 10 decibels, creating healthier, calmer environments.
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Education & Community Building: They offer hands-on learning opportunities, promote environmental awareness, and strengthen community bonds through collective creation and stewardship.
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Human Health & Well-being: Mini forests are linked to reduced stress, improved cardiovascular and respiratory health, and stronger immune systems. From its community aspect they can also decrease loneliness.
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Cultural & Economic Value: Mini forests can increase local property values while enriching cultural life by reconnecting people with nature.
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Food Security (BMF): When planted with edible species, they can also produce fruits, berries, herbs, and other crops.
Whether in cities, schools, or farms, these tiny forests are not just green patches — they are living infrastructure, restoring balance and resilience where we need it most.
Benefits of a Mini Forest
How Mini Forests Are Usually Made (The Miyawaki Method)
Most of the mini forests that are spreading globally today are based on the Miyawaki Method, developed by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki in the 1980s. The idea is simple yet powerful: by planting a dense mix of native species in small plots of land, we can recreate forest ecosystems much faster than they would develop naturally.
Key principles of the Miyawaki Method:
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Dense Planting: Up to 3–5 plants per square meter, creating fast vertical growth.
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Native Species Only: To restore local forest ecosystems and promote native biodiversity.
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Fast Succession: Designed to establish a mature-like forest in just 10–20 years instead of 100.
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No Maintenance After 3 Years: Once the forest is established, it becomes self-sustaining.
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Soil Preparation: The soil is enriched with compost and natural materials to promote root development and microbial life. Invasive species are removed, and layers of mulch are added to retain moisture and temperature.
This method has been used to green cities, restore degraded areas, and reintroduce biodiversity in over 40 countries — from schoolyards in India to parking lots in the Netherlands.
🔗 Learn more:
At BMF, we deeply admire the global movement that Miyawaki forests have sparked.
But we also asked a different question: what if a mini forest could also feed people?
Akira Miyawaki - The creator of the Miyawaki Method. | Photo credits: Tanaka Yoshitomo
Our Approach: The BMF Model for Mini Food Forests
At Biggest Mini Forest, we’ve spent years adapting the concept of mini forests to serve not just nature — but also people, communities, and local food systems.
While we honor the foundations laid by the Miyawaki method, our Mini Food Forests follow a different path. Just like Miyawaki, our goal isn’t just rapid reforestation, but long-term regeneration — of soil, biodiversity, and human connection. However, apart of using native species, we also use species that can provide us food, and other species that are there to be pruned and provide biomass for the the whole system.
As the Miyawaki method seeks to recreate what was once lost, the BMF model goes a step further: we design ecosystems for the future — edible, biodiverse, rooted in local culture, and scaled to nourish both people and the planet.
We’ve seen these mini food forests thrive in drylands, gardens, farms, schools, and communities across Portugal and beyond. And we’re working to make this model as accessible as possible — so that anyone can start planting.
Our model is not about copying a formula. It’s about building living systems that regenerate land, feed people, and grow hope — one 3x3m forest at a time.
Biggest Mini Forest Training at Quinta da Fornalha, Castro Marim, Algarve, PT
How to Create a Mini Food Forest: The 5 Steps
Every land is different — but the path to creating a resilient, biodiverse mini food forest can be simple.
Our method follows 5 steps designed to help anyone, anywhere, start planting regenerative ecosystems that produce food and restore life.
✅ Step 1: Observe & Plan
Learn to read your landscape through a regenerative lens.
Where is the water flowing? Where is the sun strongest? What’s already growing there?
Observation is the first tool of regeneration.
✅ Step 2: Design & Choose Your Plants
Understand the BMF 3m x 3m model — a simple yet powerful framework that balances density, diversity, and function.
You’ll learn how to mix trees, shrubs, herbs, and groundcovers in a way that mimics natural ecosystems.
✅ Step 3: Prepare the Soil
Healthy forests grow from healthy soil.
We’ll guide you through practical techniques to boost life below ground — using compost, microorganisms, organic matter, and natural soil structuring methods.
✅ Step 4: Plant & Mulch
Time to plant! Follow our step-by-step planting process to bring your design to life.
Then mulch deeply to protect the soil, retain moisture, and support microbial activity.
✅ Step 5: Boost Biodiversity & Early Care
From supporting pollinators to managing irrigation and shade, we’ll show you how to nurture your mini forest in the early years — and how to let nature take over if that is your intention.
Each mini food forest is a living classroom — where you learn by doing, connect with nature, and see regeneration unfold, season after season.
1 year old Mini Forest at Quinta Bohemia, Algarve, Portugal
Where Mini Forests Are Growing
Mini forests are taking root all over the world! Check out these inspiring maps and networks:
Want to see your forest on the map? Stay tuned — our open platform for community contributions is coming soon!
Illustration of the different maps of Mini Forests around the around the globe
Start Mini. Dream Big.
At BMF, we believe the path to regeneration is collective. Every mini food forest planted is a step toward a more biodiverse, edible, and resilient world.
Whether you're dreaming of transforming your backyard, engaging your local school, or regenerating farmland — we’re here to help.
Part of our dream to have as many Mini Food Forest as possible we want to soon have:
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A free open-source manual to help you plant your first Mini Food Forest
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Practical tools and templates for design, planning and care
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Access to a growing community of Mini Foresters planting around the world
We believe you don’t need to be an expert. You just need to start and allow nature to teach you along the process.
Regeneration begins with you.
Group photo - Mini Food Forest Training, at Quinta da Fornalha, Algarve, PT
Mini Forests FAQ
What is the difference between a mini forest and a food forest?
Mini forests (especially Miyawaki-style) focus on rapid biodiversity using native species. Food forests include edible species and are often designed for both regeneration and production.
How long does it take for a mini forest to mature?
Miyawaki forests mature in 10–20 years instead of 100. BMF food forests could take the same but they can start producing food in just 1 month with veggies and keep the production for many years through fruit and nut trees, while building long-term ecosystems.
Can I plant a mini forest in a small backyard?
Absolutely! Even 3x3m is enough to get started — that’s the BMF standard model. The Miyawaki method recommend 12m², but some projects inspired in the method create some pocket forests as small as 5m².
Do I need permission to plant one in a public space?
Yes, local permission is typically required. But many communities and municipalities are excited to support these projects, talk with them!
What are the costs involved?
Costs vary by region and project type, but it be done almost without any cost, in case you are resourceful and can find free local resources, or some thousands of euros in the case of big projets. Stay tuned — we’re preparing a full guide to budgeting your mini forest.
Do you have more specific questions about the Biggest Mini Forest method? Check our official FAQs page, or get in contact with us.
