As Australian cities turn into heat islands due to rising temperatures and urban development, a quiet green revolution is happening in the suburbs.

Neighbourhoods across the country are planting tiny forests - dense patches of plants that replicate naturally occurring native forests. Pioneered by the late botanist Dr Akira Miyawaki, these mini oases help cool surrounding areas, improve well-being, and restore biodiversity.

No larger than a tennis court, they mature into ecosystems within 20 years, compared to 200 years for natural forest development, and can support up to 20 times more species than non-native forests, according to the World Economic Forum.

These little forests are not only restoring tree coverage in urban areas, they’re also helping to educate people about ecosystems and provide a shared purpose for bringing communities together.

By Berenice Chong

Connecting kids to nature

In Western Australia, ecologist Dr Grey Coupland from the Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, is planting tiny forests in schools through her science outreach program. The UNESCO-recognised initiative teaches students to grow a tiny forest from the ground up, from making compost from their own lunch scraps to planting and citizen science activities.

“Creating habitat within our built environment is obviously beneficial for not just ourselves, but the organisms we share this planet with. As urbanisation continues, we really need to create spaces for other organisms in the urban landscape”, Dr Coupland said.

At South Padbury Primary School Tiny Forest, students see ecosystems in action first-hand.

“They can put their cans and bottles into the recycling bin, but once that bin has left, they can't really see any tangible outcomes from that,” she explained.

“But if they're diverting their food waste into a compost system, they're actually seeing their waste physically going to create something new, and then that compost being used in a circular fashion to grow the plants that will create a lovely forest for them.”

Under Dr Coupland’s guidance, the budding citizen scientists monitor their forest's progress by collecting data on biodiversity, temperature variations, and plant growth - with promising results.

When their tiny forest was only seven months old, it already demonstrated the ability of tiny forests to counter the urban heat island effect, where surfaces like concrete and bitumen trap and radiate heat.

On a 34-degree day, Dr Coupland’s research found the surface of the nearby car park sweltered at 58 degrees while the tiny forest was a comfortable 26 degrees.

From Vacant Lots to Vibrant Community Spaces

On the opposite side of Australia, micro-forests are springing up around the Australian Capital Territory. A variation of tiny forests, micro-forests prioritise climate-resilient species instead of replicating local forests like the fire-prone eucalyptus trees common in Canberra.

“We used a plant list from the Australian National University School of Forestry that was looking at plants likely to survive in a hotter, drier future,” said Edwina Robinson, founder of The Climate Factory, which assists community groups with starting micro-forests in their respective suburbs.

The Holt Micro-forest, also known as Gawari Mada (meaning "bush land” - a name thoughtfully chosen by Ngunnawal traditional custodian Tyronne Bell) shows how these green spaces can strengthen community bonds.

Initiated by Holt Micro-forest Community Leader Jennifer Bardsley with The Climate Factory’s assistance, it has evolved into a vibrant community space.

"It's about the people that share values around community connection, caring for Country, biodiversity, and food sustainability. And it's an important foundation for health and wellbeing. I guess it's those values that draw people together," Ms Bardsley observed.

The space now hosts Ngunawal cultural education through storytelling events, bush food workshops, and language classes. A nearby bus stop features a mural by Ngunawal artists Jazz and Kristal Matthews.

Residents have enhanced the area with a food forest, a street library, and bird boxes. It’s also used by the Australian National University's School of Art and Design for public art workshops as part of their Living City program that promotes art-based engagement with urban spaces.

For Ms Bardley, the micro-forest is a way for people to re-build social connections, especially after the COVID lockdowns three years ago.

"It doesn't feel like a neglected space anymore," she said. "It feels like a space that's cared for, that brings people together and where people meet and build relationships, and do things with purpose."

As community interest in urban sustainability grows, these pocket forest initiatives are strengthening connections between city dwellers and nature while bringing back biodiversity into concrete jungles.

By creating cooler, greener, and more engaging urban environments, they’re shaping more liveable cities for the future.