On November 8, 2025, West Los Angeles College took time to show off their new micro-forest at an event focused on climate change economics. With WLAC being the home of the California Center for Climate Change Education, the microforest is an example of action in process.
The ‘Miyawake’ forest project was planted in March of this year, and is already showing robust growth. Using a concept created by Japanese botanist Akiro Miyawake, these micro-forests have been planted in countries all over the world. The one at WLAC has professors and students committed to keeping it healthy; the standard is three years. After that, the forest is strong enough to keep growing the native plants in the way that Mother Nature prefers to keep them together. The small ecosystem was already attracting birds, bugs, lizards and other California natives, doing their thing together.
Leading an ethnobotany walk, Matt Teutimez of the indigenous Gabrieleno tribe had a lot to offer about the food and medicinal properties of the plants in the microforest. “Take something as common as mugwort, which grows like a weed. It’s a plant that has dozens of uses, from treating respiratory issues – you can drink it as a tea, or steam it and breathe it in. Our people use it for [menstrual] issues, it can help with cramps or bloating, as a treatment for acne. The Koreans use it as an ingredient in soup called Sook Sook. You can buy it at H Mart. That’s just one plant. ”
The event culminated in a showing of the documentary “Making a Mini-forest” by Angelina Lee, who was on hand to answer questions afterwards. Narrated by Hannah Lewis, author of “Mini-Forest Revolution,” the stories form a bigger picture of planting mini-forests to counter climate change and restore biodiversity.
The film presents forest projects all over the world – from Northern Europe to South America, the measurements were noted in miles, meters and hectares. One narrator in the film offered “Think of six parking spaces – that is all that you need to plant a forest.”
Judith Martin-Straw
Photo – caretakers of the micro-forest at WLAC
