Webinar: Building the urban canopy using the Miyawaki method

Mini Forests, also known as Tiny Forests or Miyawaki Forests, are small-scale, densely planted, native forests consisting of trees, shrubs, and herbs. This presentation will (a) provide an overview of the Miyawaki method and its ecological restoration principles, (b) identify preliminary soil carbon research findings, and (c) highlight opportunities for further learning and research across Canada.

This webinar is offered through landADAPT: the CSLA's continuing education program to support building capacity through professional development opportunities for Canadian landscape architects, supported by Natural Resources Canada’s Climate Change Adaptation Program.

About the Presenters

Jenn McCallum

Jenn McCallum (she/her, elle) is the Green Infrastructure Manager at Green Communities Canada, where she oversees green infrastructure projects across Canada, including 46 mini forests between 2023-2026. She has previously led environmental programming with Parks Canada, at the Science North science centre in Sudbury, ON, and at two conservation authorities. Jenn is grateful to live on the Treaty 20 homelands of the Michi Saagiig and Chippewa Nations in Nogojiwanong (Peterborough, ON), where she enjoys cycling the trails and roadways, and canoeing the waterways.

Heather Schibli

Heather Schibli, OALA, CSLA, ISA, is a landscape architect and ecologist whose practice and research are rooted in a deep appreciation for biological diversity. Life—endlessly inventive in both form and function—is increasingly recognized not only as a manifestation of, but also as a co-creator in, complex relationships. Philosopher Donna Haraway captures this dynamic eloquently: “[I]f we appreciate the foolishness of human exceptionalism then we know that becoming is always becoming with, in a contact zone where the outcome, where who is in the world, is at stake” (When Species Meet, 2008).

With over a decade of experience designing environments for both humans and non-humans, Heather’s research draws on her expertise in ecological restoration and investigates the emerging field of multispecies design. In an era marked by mass extinction and climate crisis, it is essential to embrace design practices that foster and enrich biodiversity. Landscape architects are uniquely positioned to enhance ecological health and resilience through collaborative approaches and interdisciplinary partnerships. Heather actively welcomes insights from a wide range of fields, recognizing the creative potential in cross-disciplinary exchange.