A project in Washington has given indigenous inmates the opportunity to plant a ‘healing forest’ and reconnect with their land.
In March 2021, inmates at the Yakama Nation Correction and Rehabilitation Facility in the US began a project to plant 5,000 native trees of 36 different species.
This new forest uses the Miyawaki method and is set to bring the region closer to its indigenous roots.
Pioneered by the Japanese, this method stipulates the planting of diverse species close together to create a thicker and more carbon-conscious environment.
Ethan Bryson is a forest maker for the US conservation organisation Sugi who wanted to transform the barren land at the Yakama Nation Correctional and Rehabilitation Facility into a forest.
“By planting the trees in close proximity and through the community of the roots communication,” said Bryson, “the trees will grow 10 times faster.”
The founder of Sugi, Elise Van Middelem, added: “[native forests are] 30 times denser, capture 16 times more carbon, and are 100 times more biodiverse than conventional tree plantations.”
Sugi specialises in community forestation, aiming to bring locals together in harmony with nature.
Chief of Yakama Nation Corrections, Chief Vernon Alvarez, said: “Part of the philosophy is to bring a type of rehabilitation programme to our inmates that would get them out of the detention facility.”
One prisoner commented: “I am going to be able to come by here and show my kids that I did that.
“It feels great. It makes my heart feel good.”
A similar project in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, found this initiative to be successful in cutting violence in the region’s overcrowded jails.
The world lost close to 12 million hectares of tropical forests last year, making this programme a crucial step towards reforestation.
Madeleine Raine
Featured image courtesy of Kazuend on Unsplash. Image license is available here. This image has in no way been altered.
Awesome story. Followups would be great too.
Any reporting on other similar healing environment projects?