FAQ
MIYAWAKI / METHOD / FORESTS
Who is Professor Akira Miyawaki?
Professor Akira Miyawaki is a 90-year-old Japanese botanist, expert in plant biology and professor at the National University of Yokohama in Japan. He developed the reforestation method called 'Miyawaki Method' based on the concept of 'potential natural vegetation', to recreate primary type forests.
What is a primary type forest?
A primary forest designates an area made up of native species, where there is no trace of human activity or intervention. Primary forests are intact, original forests.
What is the impact of density and diversity on a plantation?
The density accentuates the competition between the species and this struggle, coupled with natural conditions, accentuates natural selection. Thus, only the species most capable of surviving persist in the forest, which then becomes more and more resistant and resilient over the years.
What does a Miyawaki forest look like after 30 years?
Thirty years after their plantation, the Miyawaki forests are particularly dense and resilient. This is because the species that survived the strong natural selection of the first years after planting constitute a set of strong trees. These forests are composed of a high diversity of species, and their vegetation is particularly dense and massive.
How much does a tree capture CO2 per year?
The capture is done by the roots, the leaves and the trunk. All trees absorb CO2, but in varying amounts. This depends on several parameters such as the species, size, age of the tree. To know approximately the quantity of CO2 stored in a tree, it is necessary to know the “dry” mass of this one, which is roughly composed of 50% carbon. Then, knowing that a tree must absorb 3.67 g CO2 to produce 1 g of carbon, we can obtain an order of magnitude of the CO2 captured by a tree.
OUR AMBITION
Why are you planting in France where the forest already covers a third of the territory?
Our goal: to offer local solutions for a global issue.
The proximity issue was identified as important indeed because it allows companies to capitalize on a local impact with their stakeholders (consumers, employees, suppliers).
In addition, we plant on abandoned land or industrial land. Our planting actions are therefore complementary to traditional reforestation with exploitation of wood. By way of example, 100,000 hectares of polluted land have been identified in France and certain regions such as PACA or Auvergne offer so-called “damaged”, non-constructible land where the owners are in demand for dense reforestation.
How does your approach relate to the Tokyo Protocol?
The Kyoto Protocol is an international treaty signed in 1997 which aims to reduce anthropogenic emissions of six greenhouse gases. TreesEverywhere wishes to build environmental resilience, alongside businesses, by proposing voluntary carbon offset projects. Our action is thus driven and inspired by numerous international agreements and objectives such as the Kyoto Protocol. Because carbon offsetting should not replace efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, our project completes the framework of the Kyoto protocol.
What does the European Green New Deal provide?
Presented in December 2019 by Ursula von der Leyen, (President of the European Commission), this Green Deal is an action plan supposed to allow the EU to respond to the challenge of global warming while reinventing its growth strategy. This pact aims to encourage actions to reduce CO2 emissions, while creating jobs and boosting innovation. The financial efforts prompted by within the framework of the Green Deal must orient companies towards the implementation of a climate resilience strategy.
What are the main obligations of companies on the climate?
Companies are forced to take stock of their greenhouse gas emissions. This assessment must also be accompanied by a summary of the actions envisaged to reduce GHG emissions. These data are made public in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) reports.
CERTIFICATION
What is the Low Carbon Label?
It is the very first climate certification tool implemented by the French government in 2019. It certifies projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and carbon sequestration, and then value them, economically.