03/07/2025 | SIAN
The hidden power of Microforests: wellbeing, value, and biodiversity in Sustainable Spaces
In a world where urban development is accelerating and environmental well-being is becoming a key competitive advantage, microforests emerge as a powerful, beautiful, and functional solution. It’s no longer just about sustainability: it’s about creating memorable experiences, increasing the value of spaces, and helping people reconnect with nature.
At SIAN, we’ve learned something fundamental throughout our projects: nature has an incredible ability to regenerate. Sometimes, all it needs is a little space, respect, and someone to accompany it in that process.
Although at first glance, a microforest may appear to be just a small cluster of trees, in reality, it is a strategic investment. In sustainable real estate projects, boutique hotels, microresorts, or modular developments, these green spaces not only beautify but also generate high-impact ecological, social, and economic benefits.
Having a microforest can turn an ordinary project into an innovative and regenerative proposal, capable of offering tangible wellbeing, attracting attention through thoughtful design, and creating long-term value.
What is a microforest?
A microforest is a small area densely planted with native trees and shrubs that mimics the structure and biodiversity of a natural forest. Inspired by the method developed by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki, this approach aims to accelerate forest regeneration using a high diversity of species planted closely together, allowing the ecosystem to establish quickly and become self-sustaining within a few years.
What’s most surprising is that these small-scale forests concentrate many of the benefits of large forests, including:
• Filtering the air by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen.
• Reducing local temperatures and mitigating the urban heat island effect.
• Improving rainwater infiltration and water quality.
• Preventing soil erosion through strong root systems.
• Promoting biodiversity by attracting birds, insects, butterflies, and small mammals.
• Providing food and natural medicine through native fruits, leaves, and flowers.
• Supporting mental health by reducing stress and improving mood.
• Acting as natural shields against flooding and storms.
• Serving as living classrooms for ecological education.
• Strengthening emotional connection with nature.
A biodiversity oasis
At SIAN, we've seen how even the most degraded lands can become sanctuaries of life when designed with intention. Incorporating microforests into our projects has made it possible to regenerate ecosystems and restore the richness that once defined those spaces. Every tree planted, every species that returns, reminds us that it is possible to build without destroying.
Even in just a few square meters, a microforest can host an impressive variety of life. Insects, birds, small mammals, and microorganisms find an ideal refuge. The density and diversity of plant species create microclimates that support wildlife, even in urban settings.
According to a report by National Geographic, forests help conserve biodiversity, and when replicated at a small scale, they still serve this vital function. For example, projects by organizations like Earthwatch Europe and SUGi have shown that even plots with just a few hundred trees can attract more than 500 plant and animal species within their first three years.
We've seen this firsthand with our clients: implementing microforests in previously degraded or abandoned areas makes it possible to revive forgotten land and restore its ecological value. Over time, these green fragments can act as ecological corridors, allowing plants and animals to move and reestablish themselves where they had once disappeared. It’s a concrete way to reconnect nature with itself and breathe new life into lost landscapes.
Environmental wellbeing and human health
The benefits of a microforest go far beyond biodiversity. They also have direct and measurable impacts on human health.
Studies show that living near green spaces is associated with a 16% to 37% reduction in cardiovascular disease risk, as well as significant improvements in mental health and cognitive function:
• Spending at least 2 hours a week in nature enhances overall wellbeing.
• Proximity to greenery lowers the risk of depression by 20% and reduces feelings of loneliness by 28%.
• Even a short walk among trees can improve memory and attention by up to 20%.
Microforests also help purify the air, reduce noise, regulate temperature, and improve water quality in their immediate surroundings. In other words, they don’t just transform the landscape—they nurture the health of those who live in or visit the area.
A chance to offer transformative experiences
Microforests also create spaces for emotional connection. Walking among trees, hearing birdsong, and observing seasonal changes, these experiences generate a sense of peace and belonging.
In tourism and hospitality, microforests open new possibilities and become powerful allies of regenerative tourism. For microresorts, eco-lodges, and boutique hotels, integrating native forests into the experience is more than a visual asset; it’s an extension of the guest’s journey.
Some of the benefits include:
• A quieter, fresher, and healthier atmosphere for visitors.
• Ideal settings for activities like hiking, outdoor yoga, forest bathing (shinrin-yoku), birdwatching, or quiet contemplation.
• Educational and recreational spaces for children and families.
• Opportunities to integrate trails, sensory stations, or eco-friendly zip lines.
• Enhanced perception of quality and environmental responsibility.
For hosts, this not only elevates the guest experience but also differentiates their offering and opens new revenue streams through nature-focused packages, wellness retreats, or guided tours.
Is it necessary to intervene to create a forest?
Based on our experience at SIAN, we’ve found that many of the sites we work in have lost their ability to regenerate on their own. That’s why conscious intervention becomes essential—not to control nature, but to support it in its recovery.
While in some cases it may be better to let nature regenerate on its own, in urban or degraded environments, human intervention is key. Planned reforestation using native species—as proposed by the Miyawaki method—accelerates ecological recovery and creates resilient ecosystems in a short time.
Microforests also require little long-term maintenance. After two to three years of basic care, they become self-sustaining. Their biodiversity enriches the soil, retains moisture naturally, and resists pests without the need for chemicals.
An investment in the future and wellbeing
A microforest is more than a collection of trees: it’s a living ecosystem, an immersive experience, and a bridge between sustainability, wellbeing, and intentional design. It represents a way to reconnect with nature, to transform spaces, and to build a healthier, more balanced, and resilient future.
Whether in a private lot, a real estate development, or a tourist destination, a microforest can be the element that sets your proposal apart. Because in the end, nature is not a luxury—it’s a necessity. And when designed with intention, it becomes a true engine for transformation.
At SIAN, our commitment to regenerative living is reflected both in the integration of microforests with sustainable modular spaces and in the active protection of biodiversity in the environments we engage with—a fundamental part of our philosophy.
Whether for tourism, residential developments, or weekend retreats, this synergy between nature and conscious architecture creates spaces where wellbeing is lived, breathed, and shared.
A microforest alongside a SIAN unit isn’t just an aesthetic or ecological choice: it’s an invitation to inhabit the world differently.
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