DOI: 10.11118/978-80-7701-087-0-0047

BALANCING ECOLOGICAL FUNCTIONALITY AND SAFETY: ASSESSING MIYAWAKI FORESTS IN THE CONTEXT OF RECREATION

Jan Łukaszkiewicz¹, Beata Fortuna-Antoszkiewicz¹

¹ Department of Landscape Architecture, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Nowoursynowska 159, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland

The integration of nature into urban environments must carefully balance requirements of public recreation with long-term landscape protection. Recently, the Miyawaki "micro-forest" method has gained immense popularity as a rapid urban greening solution. However, this study critically assesses the functional and ecological realities of such densely planted structures against their promotional narratives. By applying conceptual modeling based on tree biomechanics, we demonstrate that the extreme planting density inherent to the Miyawaki method results in intense competition for light from the juvenile phase onward. This developmental trajectory results in spindly, pole-like tree habits characterized by high height-to-diameter (H/D) ratios, small crowns, and compromised mechanical stability. This structural vulnerability notably increases the risk of stem breakage and windthrow, posing direct safety hazards to park visitors. Consequently, these plantings fail to provide long-term microclimatic benefits - such as effective shading and transpiration cooling - essential for comfortable recreational spaces. Furthermore, their impenetrable, thicket-like structure limits spatial readability and safe accessibility, severely restricting their utility for public recreation. We conclude that while micro-forests offer a short-term visual greening effect, they cannot substitute traditional, thoughtfully spaced group plantings that ensure long-term landscape resilience, functional ecological services, and safe public use.

Keywords: dense plantings, height-to-diameter ratio, landscape architecture, tree biomechanics, urban greening

pages: 47-51, Published: 2026, online: 2026