Daan Bleichrodt

March 15, 2022 Global Earth Repair

Daan Bleichrodt is on a mission to re-connect urban kids with nature worldwide. He is Chief Tree Planting Officer at the IVN environmental education and leads the Tiny Forest movement in the Netherlands. He is also a consultant and teacher for Earthwatch in the UK, Goodplanet in Belgium, and Ecosystem Restoration Camps.

These little areas of urban wilderness mean there is always something to see or do, as Tiny Forests grow quickly and attract all manner of wildlife. They offer a great learning experience for children and adults alike, and are great at capturing CO2 with an average Tiny Forest absorbing up to 127,5kg of carbon annually. The amount of particulate matter they absorb doubles every five to six years as the forests age, so they’re good for air quality too.

Each of the Dutch forests begins with a survey of the nearby vegetation and trees to find out which ones are native to the area. These typically include birch, oak, and beech trees as well as lower growing plants like guelder rose or hazel. Each tiny forest is planted with 20 to 40 trees and shrubs. Public projects are coordinated by the IVN and schools, communities, and municipalities and are usually 200 to 250 square meters. The cost is split between the municipality and the IVN. Private landowners can also create their own smaller forests in a much tinier space.

These mini forests are seen as an asset that can help residents weather heat waves, improve water retention, remove carbon from the air, and the best benefit, according to Jeroen Schenkels, a senior advisor for the city of Utrecht on green planning, is Social.

“We basically made a mess of the world and a lot of people want to do something, but they don’t know: ‘What can I do?’”

Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands

Organization: IVN Tiny Forest the Netherlands
(English Version) https://www.ivn.nl/tinyforest/tiny-forest-worldwide…