Ch:1 | Introduction to Forest Creation Series | Forest Creation Tutorials | English

At Afforestt, we went open source in 2015 and released textual documentation for all our forests creation projects worldwide. However, soon we realised that not everything could be covered and communicated in text alone. So in 2020, we decided to run a Kickstarter campaign to create video documentation of the methodology in different languages. We are incredibly grateful for the wholehearted support we got from people across the globe. This is the first video tutorial out of the many we will be making and publishing in the future. We have explained the generic methodology of creating forests in these tutorial videos. We believe that if there is any evidence of a forest ecosystem having existed in a particular region, even before humans inhabited it, then we can recreate the same forest ecosystems using this methodology. We hope you like these videos and find them helpful in bringing back our lost forests.
After completing our Kickstarter campaign successfully in March 2020, we could not immediately start the project due to COVID-19 lockdowns and travel restrictions. We wanted to create forests and shoot the process in various countries and geographies. So we decided to start our first round of video shooting in August 2020. However, we found the process much harder than we expected. It took more time than planned to complete the video shoots and create these video tutorials. We now present to you the first set of tutorials.
We shot these videos in Village: Patto Hira Singh, Moga, Punjab. It is a semi-arid region with tropical dry deciduous forests and an annual rainfall of around 498 mm. In these tutorials, we discuss the forests of this region and how to survey and choose soil amendment material based on local climatic conditions. However, with basic guidelines being the same, one can get a fair idea of forest surveys and choosing biomass materials for their region.
We primarily focus on bringing back lost forest habitats that existed a few hundred years ago before human intervention destroyed them. Our work does not focus on forest creation for carbon sequestration, harvesting timbers, paper, agroforestry, or other plantation modules prescribed in mainstream forestry. This methodology of forest creation focuses purely on biodiversity and ecological restoration. However, Carbon sequestration, reduction in local temperature, improvement in humidity, soil fertility and groundwater recharge are some of the significant impacts of these forests.
Word of caution: The forests we make look like natural forests. However, they still are man-made, or quasi-natural. They will start to look like old natural forests in a few years and even attract similar biodiversity. But these are in no way superior to natural old-growth forests. These forests should not be considered as the substitute for natural forests that have grown over a few hundred years. Thus, Forests made by natural succession are irreplaceable. The forests we make are a great substitute for lawns, gardens, or any other form of monoculture plantations. Removing natural forests and doing compensatory afforestation using this methodology should never be considered. Conserving existing old-growth natural forests is critical. In fact, natural forests are essential for our work, as they offer genetic material in the form of seeds of native flora for our projects. Thus, our foremost responsibility and duty is to conserve old-growth natural forests as there is no substitute for them.
Afforestt ( www.afforestt.com) is an eleven-year-old company. We specialise in making native forests, especially in urban areas. We have been lucky to have trained and worked under some of the best ecologists, including Dr Akira Miyawaki. Our methodology is based on the theory of Potential Natural vegetation and Potted seedling methodology, commonly known as the Miyawaki method. These videos use the Potted seedling method with few added layers to improve soil microbiology. They utilise Afforestt's research and development from various geographies spread across sixteen countries and four continents. The study took over 11 years and several interactions with other prominent ecologists of India and abroad.
These videos are narrated by Shubhendu Sharma ( Founder, Afforestt) and Gaurav Gurjar ( Forest maker at Afforestt). The methodology we are explaining is the result of our standard operating procedure co-developed and compiled through exhaustive research and on-ground implementation by Sunny Verma ( Executive Director, Afforestt.)
How: This video tutorial series is divided into 11 parts and should be watched in this order for better clarity and understanding. Names and titles of these videos, in order, is as follows:
Introduction to forest making series.
Forest survey
Nursery setup and procurement of species
Site readiness
Forest design
Soil test and preparation
Compost tea / Jeevamrut
Plantation and execution
Bill of materials
Maintenance
Growth Monitoring

[@RK-es8oj]

Government should encourage these people 🤝👌👍

[@GraceDollesin]

I started turning my backyard into a mini forest. I have a 100 feet by 80 feet backyard. I have planted 5 Japanese Maple Trees, 14 pine tress (15 feet tall now), Alberta spruce , burning bush trees, lilacs, maple trees, moringa trees. I love trees. My waterfall Japanese Tree Is now my de-stressing tree. I lay down under my waterfall Japanese Tree relax and make myself grounded. I love trees and birds.

[@yerbolkozhabekov3855]

Hi. Thanks for you job. I will make forest with your instruction in Kazakhstan Insha Allah

[@mohannair5671]

All the very best for anearly success

[@xandercage702]

Insha ALLAH ❤️❤️❤️🇵🇸❤️❤️❤️

[@AyanSeal10000]

Thank you sir for your initiative 🙏🏻🙏🏻 love from India 🇮🇳❤

[@qugnf5j]

Insha Allah , please keep us posted

[@suchithraraghavan5335]

Jai shree Ram

[@ariadnepyanfar1048]

Thankyou from Australia for your excellent presentation. I became bedbound by a chronic illness just as I became interested in Permaculture, rewilding, and land restoration. Videos like yours, and the Water Cup in India are my hope for the world. While I cannot do the work myself, it makes my heart glow with happiness to see so may people around the world actively healing the Earth, for our own sake and the sake of the land itself.

[@purnendupatra1]

God Bless your Heart... Wish that you are back on your feet stronger to pursue what you love

[@bollynerd]

Your deep desire to do good will get you out of your sick bed. Hope to see you soon creating your own food forests!

[@chandranathsarkar1349]

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[@Raquesheety]

May you be well, blessed and healed.

[@LMKTinyForest]

Hope you are healed and go to see my Tiny Forest. Big heart from Thailand

[@Riteshravikiran]

Bank of Baroda’s initiative is a great reminder of the power of collaboration

[@chan_for]

I would suggest to add an easy youtube title, which includes keywords like "Miyawaki Forest". Like this video is so valuable but difficult to appear in youtube algorithm because of less relevant title to the searches

[@MariaOliveira-lf1dy]

Thank you very much for all the knowledge that you share with us. I am a farmer living in Portugal. I bought a Quinta with very impoverished soil. with a lot of erosion and unfortunately the land was full of trash. I've already managed to make a vegetable garden and an orchard but this knowledge that you offer us will help me to improve more knowledge in mine plantations. I am a woman from Brazil who immigrated to Portugal and it is a big challenge for me to make this nature more fertile than I found. The soil was full of erosionand very sad. God bless you for doing good to nature and the world.

[@leenakthadani]

Look into electroculture

[@hgdon-homeiswheretreesare-9239]

Love your forest 🌳 In America, I read that it used to be forest (400 years ago) from East coast to West coast. I would love to have those forests back in America and the world 🌎.

[@dildil9611]

Hello, u creating forest in america..

[@AmzBackyardOrchardandVineyard]

Greetings from Arizona USA. Thank you for your teachings, we will be applying these techniques very soon!

[@Janardhanpersonal]

World need more people like you because forest is vital to our life

[@rajeshkothari9066]

Extremely impressed by you Mr Sharma. I have been following you since your TED talk. I have few questions......1) Can you combine Permaculture techniques and Miyawaki Techniques ? 2) Can you have Miyakavi forest & fruit/food forest side by side? 3) Do you take volunteers for onsite training & what are your charges?

[@Ana-ws6xj]

I am also interested in travelling to India to learn

[@hasmukhranka8299]

Please share your email ID

[@sam1978eer]

​@@Ana-ws6xjI can help you align with Vinay Kumar, art of living founded by shri shri Ravi Shankar, Vinay is expert of Permaculture

[@gulshangupta1899]

इतनी सुंदर हिंदी, आपको नमन 🙏🙏🙏🪷 हमारा ज्ञान अधभुत हैं। 🙏🪷🪷

[@IanEdmarBelmonte03]

Great content. I love the principles and I'm looking forward to applying it my future food forest. Keep up the great work! Thank you. 🇵🇭🇮🇹

[@summerjune4269]

Touched by your values and message. Well articulated and hoping more green initiatives come from the smart Indians who can bring in a sea change to past trend of paper-chasing.

[@aj295]

Thank you. The akira Miyazaki method and ur guidelines have enabled me to make a semi forest like area in my house. Although it consists of non native plants. I am based in ME where temp reach almost 48C in summers with hot winds Had to create my own rain system to simulate rain and irrigation system After 1.5 yrs have reduced the watering as the trees have grown a bit and shade the area Have also harvested papayas and a few figs thought he birds get most of the figs 😊!!! Thanks again it’s amazing to look into a green verdant view right outside my windows It’s also helped in cooling down the outside area even in peak summers

[@LMKTinyForest]

I watched your video in TED talks over and over before I started planting trees 5 years ago. Thank you for your great work. Big heart from Thailand

[@KlausRiede]

Didit work? Sendus some videos!

[@GaganSinghDev]

Thank you and your team for the contribution sir

Thank you for the knowledge from The Philippines.

[@neelendudas4320]

Thank you for guiding us so beautifully and I will follow your guidance.

[@Raquesheety]

Thank you 🙏 I’m retiring in Nicaragua and starting my native forest. Your instructions will help me a lot in my new project. I’m looking forward watching your next video.

[@nanwuamitofo]

Greetings and respect from the Netherlands! Very informative and inspiring videos! I'll watch more of them and see how I can apply them in my life and surroundings. Thank you!

[@MohammedZaheeruddin]

Highly appreciable video. Every Tree lover must watch these wonderful series of videos. further in each and every school these series of documentaries must be shown to each and every student. Government must take necessary action to develop these kind of Miyawaki forest ( If possible, fruit bearing forest ) in each and every village for greenery and fresh air and for sustenance of flora and fauna. Further the general public are also requested to preserve the seeds of the fruit which they bring home for consumption and later during rainy season whenever they are traveling must ensure to put these seeds on roadside for its growth. Best wishes from Hyderabad, India

[@koeldutta8328]

Excellent narration with example. ❤

[@nilimavarma309]

Hello,thank u so much for such vital information,will definitely,go ahead with it,much blessings.

[@vijayvaswani3812]

Your channel is amazing. The quality of the science and detail is exactly what I was looking for. Well done.

[@sreejapal183]

This is a wonderfully informative video...Such a practical guide with indepth explanation is truly a rare find even with all the climate change awareness videos around. A solution-oriented video, ending with an apt cautionary-note is indeed a well-thought approach. The host Mr. Shubhedu Sharma deserves special mention for making us understand the technicalities in such a lucid manner. The tone of the video gives us hope for a sustainable future. Thank you !

[@prasadkumarg.m7126]

Great salute sir for your work sir 🙏🙏🙏

[@themotivatrbeast6326]

Heart touching work.......hats of to his work and his sacrifice too❤

[@francisesho8710]

It's really inspiring please provide for us the POPs of this noble venture.

[@arunalokuge1595]

Great job, great passion!! Thanks 🙏🏽 ❤!!

[@deXXXXter2]

I love your idea and i think this is absolutely basic stuff to comprehend why our 'forests' are mostly tree plantations for the common person. Just one suggestion - maybe try to make all of those chapters in one long documentary video. It might have much more potential for higher views, as it will be easier to share.

[@suswsh07]

Beautifully explain 🙏

[@vijayburhadeshilpkar441]

हरि ओम परमानंद धाम ❤very good and helpful person. Netur lover.

[@nauticalnovice9244]

What a great method!

[@poonamsharma7775]

Thank you so so so much for being into my you tube recommendations. I was just looking for u people!

[@drsteviejasengnsangma8739]

Excellent video as you have shared both the pros & cons of the Miyawaki forest.

[@chelseacoyle9967]

Watching on two accounts to give you double engagement. So happy to find your channel.

[@amiyamazudermazumder5301]

God bless you.

[@thepeopleplaceandnaturepod8344]

It's inspiring to see people like you using their platform to raise awareness and encourage positive change. 🍀

[@salmankazme]

Hello from 🇵🇰 Great initiate Afforest. I am in middle of developing dandelion trail. Can you also do a video on how we can add wildflowers, populate local wildlife, scents of plants, and fruits Will follow your posts. Keep it up.🎉

[@Picci25021973]

I'm doing the same at my homestead, using different techniques. Interesting to learn from you!

[@ksisneh]

Doing gods work

[@jaykobe5722]

This is a very valuable video. thank you.

[@abhiraja7173]

Excited , cant wait to finish all thr episodes

[@Avdesh470]

Wonderful

[@suneetsalvi1200]

Blessed to have people like you. Bow to you with great respect.

[@ThinkEverest]

I love this initiative love❤ u sir

[@drvk999]

This guy need to be awarded

[@mtrisi]

so good, thank you

[@sabitrisahoo3594]

Is there any society who search volunteers for growing forest, plzz inform us I will do my best ,it will be my pleasure to join this ,thank you soooo much for your wonderful work.

[@Berar24365]

Have you visited the model village of Hiware Bajar हिवरे बाजार in Maharashtra ?

[@mitalishah3552]

Thankyou so much for sharing this... People like you are doing amazing job👍

[@bernadineseven]

Thank you 🙏 so very much 😊

[@muzingayengwenya4587]

Awesome video, thanks for sharing 👍

[@ayuhayabnay]

Thats Very Good my friend

[@ruchibhansali1116]

Beautifully presented. Thank you so much for the video.

[@ranjanapandey9630]

Good Brother...keep up the good work...efforts of many are needed for the procurement and conservtion of nature..Almighty bless you with all the strength.🙏👍👍

[@hoppypoppy950]

Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge!

[@kanchanarajagopal1693]

Soooo nice. So impressive

[@shivakoliar4846]

How To Live In Harmony With Nature And Reduce Pollution 1. Many Production Companies Which Are Not Actually Needed For Human Beings Has To Be Stopped We manufacture so many products and it is creating pollution. So if we minimise our products, pollution would be less. We produce so many things which we do not need, like cold drinks, leather products, potato wafers, chips, fruit juices, chocolates, biscuits, pickles, ice creams, etc. Cold drinks, fruit juices, pickles, ice creams, etc. Should be cooked at home only. If we stopped producing this things which are not required for humans, so much pollution could be reduced. If we colour the clothes pollution occurs. So if we don't colour our clothes, the pollution resulting from colouring the clothes can be stopped. Let everything remain in natural colour. 2. We Should Cook Foods In Its Natural Form We can cook rice and wheat in our homes and eat it. Rice and Wheat is produced in farms. Then it is packed and transported to big warehouses, then wholesalers buy from them and supply to retail shops. But if a manufacturing company makes bread from rice and wheat, then to make bread a manufacturing company has to be set up, machines and working staffs are needed. When a company is built many other things are also needed. Then at last a plastic pack is required to pack the breads. So if we start cooking eatable things in its natural form then we do not need many companies like bread manufacturing company, tomato ketchup, noodles, fruit jam, pizza, burger, etc., the things required for the company and the plastic pack, paper box pack and glass bottles. If done like this, so many companies will not be required and hence less pollution for the world. Also we could save our money like this. If you buy a packet of bread, it would cost you more money than if you cook wheat and rice in home. Previously before industrial revolution, we didn't have technology, but our foods were rich with nutrients. Now we have technology, but technology is polluting our foods and our foods are not rich with nutrients, and because of that also we have health problems. If this is done, then many jobs would be lost. For that many peoples should do farming and they should be given loans if they do not have enough money to start farming on their own. Food, Medicines, Surgeries and Education's should be made free to the world till the world settles down with farming. After that food, medicines, surgeries and education's should be stopped free to the world. Many people should study botany subject so that they have knowledge of plants and they should do farming. Is their any another solution, that humans won't lose jobs and also pollution would decrease. Humans have to take this step certainly instead of going on polluting the earth, making wildlife extinct and also mass extinctions of humans in future. 3. We Should Stop Using Makeup Products Many women's all over the world do makeup. Instead of doing makeup to look beautiful, women's should do exercise daily. If they exercise and sweat, eat fruits daily, they would have less dead skins and be naturally beautiful. They could save so much money if they stop using makeup products. If this is done then all the makeup manufacturing companies can be shut down. In this way all the pollution resulting from the makeup manufacturing companies would also be stopped. 4. Electricity Pollution We create electricity from many types of sources like coal, water, etc., but it creates pollution. If electricity created from windmill and solar energy then no pollution occurs in the creation process. But still to manufacture windmill and solar machines pollution would occur. As I previously said that if we shut down many manufacturing companies which are producing things which are not actually needed for humans, then the world would not require so much electricity. If less electricity required, then less pollution generated. 5. Firecrackers should be banned Firecrackers should be banned because it is harmful for animals. Animals have different levels of hearing and when we burst crackers which have a loud noise the dogs run away from that place. The dogs may hear the noise more louder than humans. When we fire the rocket cracker up in the sky and it bursts and if any bird is near to the explosion then that birds internal organs are damaged and they die just because of that explosion sound. Also peoples who have asthma illness, they face problems during Diwali. So much papers and threads are used in manufacturing crackers. The persons working in the manufacturing companies also suffer. Now when their are animals rights for not harming them, then this step of banning firecrackers must be taken. 6. Hair dye manufacturing should be banned People use hair dye to colour their hairs. The hair dye manufacturing companies after production dumps its waste in rivers or seas which pollutes the water. So all hair dye manufacturing companies should be shut down. 7. We Can Stop Eating Sweets, Cakes And Stop Drinking Liquor, Wine And Beer We consume sweets and cakes. We make it from many things such as wheat, coconut, etc. and add sugar to it. But what we want is the sweet thing to consume which we are getting directly from fruits. The fruit is naturally sweet. So if we want to consume sweets and cakes, we do not have to prepare it, just we have to eat fruits. So all the sweet manufacturing companies can be shut down. If you shut down a sweet manufacturing company, then so many paper boxes need not be manufactured which are used to pack the sweets. Liquor, wine and beer are also made from fruits. So if you want to consume liquor, wine and beer, just eat fruits. If this is followed, then you do not have to set up liquor factories and prepare cartoon boxes for liquors. Everybody should go to the rehabilitation centres those who can't live without liquor or prepare liquor in their own homes. Those who smoke cigarettes, they should grow tobacco in their own homes and buy a tobacco pipe and smoke cigarettes, then we can shut down the tobacco industry also. 8. To Stop Using Perfumes And Powders For bad smell in body both men and women should exercise and sweat, it would reduce the bad smell. If you stop using perfumes and powders, we don't need perfume and powder manufacturing companies and perfume and powder bottles need not be manufactured, cartoon boxes need not be manufactured for packing them and transportations can be reduced. 9. Could We Stop Drinking Cow's and Buffalo's Milk Whatever vitamins and nutrients we get from milk, if we can get it from other eatable things, then we can stop drinking cow's and buffalo's milk. As milk has to be packed in glass bottles and plastic packs and then transported to places. All of this can be stopped. For infants whose mother's have died or mother's who cannot breast feed their infants, only for them cow's and buffalo's milk should be given. We use milk in tea and coffee. Instead of milk we must use lime with tea and coffee or just plain tea and coffee. A lime should be cut into a few pieces and cooked with tea and coffee or something else can be used instead of lime. 10. A Manufacturing Company Which We Do Not Need Actually For Human Beings, If It Is Stopped, Then We Have The Following Benefits When a manufacturing company which we do not need actually for human beings, if it is stopped, then we have the following benefits. That company which is built in a place, that much land is saved, machines does not have to be manufactured, for machines to operate oil is needed and many other things, for which we have to make oil manufacturing company and all other companies for all other things like cartoon boxes, plastic ropes and plastic cans, registers, pencil, pen, stationery products. To make cartoon boxes papers are required and to stick papers gums are required. To make gums so much dough is needed and caustic soda is needed. If we don't manufacture cartoon boxes then that dough can be eaten. Transportation is needed to deliver things to all the shops. For transportation we need vehicles and to operate vehicles petrol is needed, to get petrol we have to set up oil rig platforms in the sea or land and to deliver petrol to a petrol pump that petrol is needed to be put in a drum, a plastic drum has to be manufactured and then many ships have to be manufactured for shipping the petrol to all the places. For all this works so much land is lost and so much pollution is created, from that pollution humans, land animals, sea animals, aerial animals and earth is suffering. Also many transportation items which requires huge trucks for transportation a driver has to drive only at night and his day life is lost. Surely at night time driving the driver would become sleepy sometimes and accidents do happen. All of this can be reduced and this will be our benefits if we stopped a manufacturing company which we do not need not actually for human beings. When you stop making a manufacturing company then all the problems related with it won't occur.

[@guilhermeserpa1908]

Thank you for sharing this beautiful piece of hope

[@kajalchaudhuri6110]

Beautiful expression. Very good concept. Thanks.

[@giusiscarsella8748]

Thank you for the work you do. I am passionate about plants, I am in central Italy. I own two ha of land and all I do is... to plant. I would like to involve the students of my school in this project even though I am a literature teacher

[@sukhmansahota9621]

👍👍👍👍

[@itachiuchiha-vs3qb]

This needs more attention..

[@geetasrajasthanirasoi6646]

Great work 👍👌

[@srivishnucharan5367]

❤

[@sarojini1977]

Great work, salute to your work

[@godfreylawrence4055]

Wow.. was just thinkin how to go about making a forest in my 20 acre property, as I want to do a water 💦 world/ park in the forest 🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲

[@amitkumarsharma9328]

❤😊

[@guybartlett9587]

Subbed

[@rosepetals217]

How many natural forests are left in india ..actually how many trees are left in any particular city in India.. Pay money to the authorities and chop down trees. Its so easy. The only solution is make a forest..

[@mirrorflame1988]

Wonderful!

[@townstunsltd6727]

Posthumous Awards to honour and advertise Dr Miyawaki work!

[@LabklajibasDarzi]

Great method, thanks! 👍

[@agriplast]

You are doing an amazing work

[@meetpisavadiya3062]

Great work

[@Tastic.124]

Thankyou sir ,for instructed for creating biodiversity 🖤🖤🌱

[@MadhaviSardeshpande]

Awesome ❤ Would like to be part of such afforestation.

[@roshnikhetan6979]

Wow this is such a great initiative!

[@Gorusuur]

Very insightful video

[@mrsms2178]

good motto.....

[@santanarzary1823]

Forest is my life

[@timetravellerthoughts9010]

Proud of you

[@hotelsierra86]

Inspiring.

[@rosepetals217]

So beautiful. I want to do it in my city..

[@linnetworksfromleonard5154]

informative video 👍🤩

[@FarmingDekhoPk]

I like the concept

[@ClixxCafe]

Informative / Guiding ) Innovative...Our NGO - MITAAN To Seek Your Guidance To Implement This Project In Various Districts Of The Chhattisgarh State...

[@alirazalael8414]

thank you so much for this video.

[@davidcupples7622]

Nice!

[@ankitdubey9164]

Great

[@vidyabhushanmarkam7882]

Sar thank u so Mach for good suggestion so proud of you sir good day

[@anshu3432]

This guy is great !!!!

[@raomansmita]

This is amazing!!!

[@ShivamSahuIndia]

Awesome 👍😎

[@ashutoshtandon2860]

nice & educative

[@vinu1914]

wow...

[@jagdeepsandhu9659]

I notice that you have not answered any queries by your viewers., pl do so we can learn more .

[@DeepakGupta-ng5ni]

Very inspiring

[@whatsnews6253]

Is it possible to build a forest in this place with your idea? Altitude 1300 meters. Latitude 34. Annual rainfall is 400 mm. At the same time, the region (western iran) is suffering from severe evaporation.

[@samratvchakraborty5157]

Native trees which already exist there can be used I guess