In its ongoing effort to support the health and diversity of its tree habitat, the University of Iowa will plant a Miyawaki forest on the west side of campus on Arbor Day.
Tree varieties
The species of trees that will be planted include:
- Black oak, Quercus velutina
- Shagbark hickory, Carya ovata
- Pawpaw, Asimina triloba
- Black walnut, Juglans nigra
- Bitternut hickory, Carya cordiformi
- American hornbeam, Carpinus caroliniana
- Chinquapin oak, Quercus muehlenbergii
- Pignut hickory, Carya glabra
- Persimmon, Diospyrus virginiana
- Kentucky coffeetree, Gymnocladus dioicus
- Ohio buckeye, Aesculus glabra
- Red oak, Quercus rubra
- White oak, Quercus alba
- Pecan, Carya illinoensis
- Wahoo, Euonymus atropupurea
- Hazelnut, Corylus americana
- Redbud, Cercis canadensis
- Blackhaw viburnum, Viburnum prunifolum
- Wild plum, Prunus americana
- Serviceberry, Amelanchier arborea
- Shellbark hickory, Carya Laciniosa
- Black cherry, Prunus serotina
- Smooth sumac, Rhus glabra
- Sugar maple, Acer saccharum
Named for its innovative planting technique known as the Miyawaki method (pronounced mee-yah-wah-kee), this reforestation practice is designed to mimic the natural growth process of conventional forests by densely planting native seedlings.
In a conventional forest, trees are usually 9 feet apart. In a Miyawaki forest, trees are planted just 1 to 2 feet apart.
About 4,000 native seedlings will be planted on a half-acre northeast of Hillcrest Residence Hall, 25 Byington Road, and east of Parking Lot 13 in a spot that historically has been challenging for UI Landscape Services to maintain. While conventional forests can take centuries to mature, Miyawaki forests mature in 20 to 30 years.
Once completed, UI’s Miyawaki forest will be the second and largest in the state. The other forest is in West Des Moines, Iowa.
“Miyawaki forests offer a range of ecological benefits, including creating habitat for native fauna while improving air quality and stormwater management,” says Brinda Shetty, program manager with the Office of Sustainability and the Environment.
After planting, Miyawaki forests need just three years of weeding and watering maintenance. After that, the forest will be largely self-sustaining and will require little to no maintenance.
“We’re planting more trees, creating a natural environment for native species, and creating something that will be naturally self-sustaining,” says Andy Dahl, landscape urban forest supervisor and arborist with UI Landscape Services. “It’s a win-win.”
The UI has an extensive tree management maintenance plan, which has resulted in 16 years of recognition as a Tree Campus Higher Education university by the Arbor Day Foundation and a level II accredited arboretum through ArbNet.
UI maintains about 8,000 trees of more than 300 species and typically plants more than 300 trees each year.
How the forest came to be
In fall 2024, students in the College of Engineering’s Sustainable Systems class learned about Miyawaki forests and collaborated with Landscape Services and the Office of Sustainability and the Environment to determine if one could be planted on campus. At the end of the semester, the students presented their recommendations, which inspired the university to move forward.
Alyssa Hatch, a fourth-year Sustainable Sciences major from Dysart, Iowa, was part of the class taught by David Cwiertny, the William D. Ashton Professor of Civil Engineering and professor of civil and environmental engineering.
“I was especially drawn to the aspect of creating something long-lasting, something that not only benefits the environment but also provides learning experiences for future students,” Hatch says. “It’s been incredibly exciting and rewarding to see this project come to life.”
Landscape Services identified potential locations and ultimately selected the site near Hillcrest due to its steep hill that is dangerous to mow and is not suitable for future construction.
Dahl then began developing a list of trees to plant and sourcing them from nurseries capable of providing the necessary quantity.