Inspired by the Bermuda Zoological Society’s Micro Forest Project, 14-year-old Zoë Mir set about planning and planting one at her school. Her efforts garnered her first place in the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute’s Young Reporters for the Environment Journalism competition and a second place in the International competition. Here we share with her winning submission.
As I lowered the young Bermuda cedar into the rocky soil, carefully packing dirt around the tiny tree, I felt a strong sense of responsibility. After the arrival of humans to Bermuda more than 400 years ago, the natural landscape of this isolated North Atlantic archipelago was forever altered. Limestone buildings began to dominate the scenery while invasive pests like rats arrived aboard ships. Many of Bermuda’s endemic trees, like the Bermuda cedar, were cut down for wood, and animals such as the now-endangered Bermuda petrel were hunted to near-extinction.
Now, I was able to do something about these centuries of biodiversity loss. Along with a small group of volunteers working with the Bermuda Zoological Society, I was helping to clear an area of invasive weeds, preparing the land for plants that would help to rebuild the Bermuda ecosystem. Together, we were planting a micro forest—one of 20 now across Bermuda—and playing a small part in bringing back the natural balance of our 21-square-mile island home.
I picked up my shovel and moved through the plot, carefully weaving between native and endemic plants. Unlike the invasives we removed, these plants were much sturdier, built to survive the harsh subtropical wind and rain as well as the bright sun and heavy sea spray. I found a young Bermuda palmetto to plant next. Like many plants found naturally in Bermuda, the Bermuda palmetto has an invasive counterpart: the Chinese fan palm. Although they look similar, Chinese fan palms have higher berry production than Bermuda palmettos. They quickly form thickets, overshadowing native plants and crowding them out, and their thorns and abundancy make them difficult to remove.
One of the most significant blows to Bermuda’s biodiversity can be traced to the cedar blight of 1946 to 1953. Bermuda cedar wood had previously been used for crafts, ship building, furniture, and firewood, but the trees’ population plummeted with the accidental introduction of two species of juniper scale insects. The bugs wiped out 95 percent of the cedars, destroying habitats for indigenous birds and insects like the Bermuda bluebird and a now-extinct cicada, which saw serious population declines.
Soon, more invasive wildlife was introduced in an attempt to address the problem, but more often than not, it ended up doing harm. The casuarina, a non-native tree that was planted widely to replace lost cedars, created competition for the few remaining cedars and other native trees. Casuarinas’ shallow roots were also not fit to handle Bermuda’s strong winds, and their needles littered the ground, creating a carpet and turning the soil more acidic. Bermuda’s native and endemic plants were being driven out by invasives, while the forests became continually less recognisable as a few species took over.
Micro forests were designed to tackle these issues. Known across the world by different names, micro forests originated in Japan, where, in the 1970s, Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki invented a way to create dense, rapidly growing native forests. The Miyawaki method involves planting many seedlings close together in a densely packed and random formation, mimicking a real forest with the involvement of layers, from brush to tall-standing trees. While other forests can require centuries to grow, Miyawaki forests can flourish in decades and need little watering or weeding after the first three years. They have been successful all over the world, helping to store carbon, reduce sound pollution, produce cleaner air, improve health, educate local communities, and create habitats that foster biodiversity.
In 2021, Miyawaki forests came to Bermuda with the creation of the Bermuda Zoological Society (BZS) Micro Forest Project. The Miyawaki method is a good fit for Bermuda because it is adaptable to Bermuda’s unique flora and doesn’t require much space. “Micro forests are positively impacting biodiversity by providing new habitats for native and endemic species,” says Nicholas Coelho, a member of the BZS who helped to spearhead the project. “We’ve observed an increase in bird and insect activity, and native plants are thriving in these restored areas.” Between November 2021 and December 2023, the BZS Micro Forest Project planted 4,033 plants with a 94.92 percent survival rate. They have been planted on about 4,917.82 square metres of land, removing an estimated 80,000 invasive plants.
“The project’s long-term goals include creating a network of micro forests that serve as stepping stones for wildlife, promoting connectivity, and enhancing the ecosystem’s resilience,” says Coelho. “We’re also working on community engagement and education, encouraging people to take an active role in environmental restoration.”
It is a huge project, and much of the labour is volunteer-driven, with more than 1,000 people volunteering 2,500 hours at Bermuda’s micro forests. Lee-Anne Cox is one of them. “I volunteered because I want to learn more about our endemic species and to help with this wonderful initiative,” says Cox. “The clearing and learning about the different plant species, both weeds and endemics, was amazing. I would definitely recommend everyone to do this at least once because it is a way to give back to our community, learn about our flora and fauna and a bit of Bermuda history as well.”
After volunteering myself, I decided to create a micro forest at my Bermuda school with my friends. Our project during the 2022–23 school year would increase biodiversity and also create an outdoor educational space. We reached out to the BZS with possible locations for the forest and settled on a rocky area below a limestone cliff at the back of the school.
Working closely with the BZS, we determined which native and endemic plants would be best suited for the environment. Then, while we fundraised to purchase plants, dirt, and mulch and began to prepare the ground, the BZS took drone photos of the area and created a map for our 171 plants, with different species spread in a random pattern to mimic a natural forest. Finally, with guidance from the BZS and the assistance of student and staff volunteers from our school, we received and planted the indigenous shrubs and trees, including Bermuda cedar, Bermuda palmetto, buttonwood, Bermuda yellowwood, red mulberry, Bermuda snowberry, Turnera, seaside goldenrod, and doc bush. A year later, the micro forest is still shooting up, and though it requires occasional weeding, it is largely independent.
Being able to walk through a natural space that is being protected reminds me how crucial biodiversity is to our ecosystem in Bermuda and others across the globe. Working on these projects to create micro forests has also revealed to me the delicate balance of nature, which we, as humans, have a duty to maintain.
