Tiny Forest Netherlands

Since planting Europe's first Miyawaki-method Tiny Forest in Zaandam in 2015, Dutch nature-education charity IVN has densely planted native saplings on small urban plots the size of a tennis court, creating fast-growing mini-forests that cool streets, soak up rainwater and boost biodiversity. Scientists monitoring the network have logged 595 different animal and plant species living in these Tiny Forests, and each 200-square-metre plot is estimated to sequester around 250kg of CO2 a year. More than 200 Tiny Forests have been planted in Dutch public spaces, plus almost 100 more on private land, with 20,000 schoolchildren, 1,500 teachers and 1,200 local residents taking part in planting and caring for them.