UI to plant second Miyawaki Forest on Arbor Day

After successfully planting its first Miyawaki forest in 2025, the University of Iowa will plant a second native woodland on Arbor Day 2026.

The new one-tenth acre site is located at the southeast corner of the College of Public Health Building, expanding the university's efforts to prioritize green spaces, enhance biodiversity, and create immersive learning areas on campus.

The decision to plant a second forest comes after the first planting of about 4,000 native seedlings near Hillcrest Residence Hall showed high survival rates and vigorous early growth.

"The first forest is doing very well," says Andy Dahl, landscape urban forest supervisor and arborist with UI Landscape Services. "After seeing that success, I started noticing potential Miyawaki forests everywhere I went on campus and hoped we could add another."

The second forest will be about half the size of the first, with about 2,000 seedlings to be planted by UI staff, students, and volunteers on April 24 and 25. April 24 is Arbor Day.

The site near the College of Public Health Building was selected for practical and environmental reasons. The area presents challenging mowing conditions because of surrounding slopes and its separation from adjacent turf.

"Why not plant trees there?" Dahl says. "The trees will contribute far more to the environment than turf - creating shade, reducing heat, and providing a visual screen from the highway."

Miyawaki forests are planted using a dense, native-seedling approach that mimics natural forest regeneration. Trees and shrubs are placed 1 to 2 feet apart, allowing the forest to mature significantly faster than in traditional plantings.

"They help increase biodiversity, manage stormwater, and even reduce local temperatures and air pollutants over time," says Brinda Shetty, program manager for the Office of Sustainability and the Environment. "The first planting was incredibly successful and felt like a celebration of spring - it brought campus and the Iowa City community together for a shared purpose."

Community participation played a major role in the project's success. Over four days in 2025, about 400 volunteers helped plant the 4,000 trees.

"One thing that really stood out was how many people told us they were planting their very first tree," says Beth MacKenzie, sustainability program manager for the Office of Sustainability and the Environment. "It's powerful to think they can return years from now, see how the forest has grown, and feel a lasting connection knowing they helped make it happen."

The second planting reinforces the university's broader commitment to tree stewardship. The UI maintains about 9,000 trees representing more than 350 species and has earned 17 consecutive years of recognition as a Tree Campus Higher Education university by the Arbor Day Foundation, in addition to a Level II arboretum accreditation.

"These trees will grow, provide shade, clean air, and support wildlife," Dahl says. "When you join us, you're helping to build something that will live on long after we're gone - shaping a greener, healthier future for Iowa."