Pocket Forest

In collaboration with the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, ArtPhilly will establish a Miyawaki micro-forest on a vacant parcel of land in Philadelphia. Miyawaki forests are biodiverse, native, pocket-sized forests that reestablish full, functioning ecosystems in the areas they are planted up to ten times faster than conventional forests. This scalable, replicable nature-based climate solution offers tremendous environmental benefits, including cooling, increased biodiversity, increased tree coverage, carbon sequestration, and more. This project proposes that an artist be included in the development of the pocket forest from the beginning, allowing the space to not only offer practical benefits, but also beautify the city through its thoughtful and creative design. Furthermore, local residents will have the option to participate in the labor of planting, offering a chance for community-building and immersion within nature. Once complete, the forest can serve as a public park, an outdoor environmental learning classroom, a cooling station on hot days, and a destination for public performance and art.