SUGi

SUGi Talks Moments 🌳 EP.06: Do Trees Really Speak to Each Other? Did you know that underneath the forest floor resources can be transferred from one tree to another in need? The Mycorrhizal Network is a fungal web that resides in soil. It functions like Nature’s internet, connecting many plants and enabling the transfer of resources and chemical messengers. On this excerpt of SUGi Talks we speak with ecologist and SUGi Forest Maker Gabriel Orrego Astorga & co-founder Symbiótica Chile about the magical inner workings of fungi. Make sure you Like and Subscribe wherever you get podcasts for more SUGi Talks. Link in comments 👉 #SUGi #PocketForest #Biodiversity #Mycellium

The scale of the Climate Crisis can be overwhelming. "Be like a radiator" can be a helpful approach in such moments. 💚

Coexistence 🌿 . How? SUGi Pocket Forests are designed to mimic the way a forest would recolonise itself if humans stepped away; allowing for coexistence to happen naturally. Our global community of forest makers uses native species — that have spent thousands of years adapting to their local environment — to create a supporting ecosystem: planting them doesn’t just reinstate this biodiversity it builds a site that’s more responsive to climate change. Sometimes less is more, but in this instance, planting a huge variety of native trees close together means an increase in biodiversity. The denseness of growth provides a greater amount of forage for pollinators and refuge for birds. More canopy cover shades out weeds and creates a cool home for insects, plus the increased leaf litter builds fertility and life in the soil. Also, if you have a variety of tree species, you have others to step in if one succumbs to disease. We love this quote from Gaurav! It sums it all up:  “Abundance is the bioproduct of coexistence” — Gaurav Gurjar, SUGi Forest Maker, Jungle tree expert at Afforestt and the Director of the Maruvan Foundation in Rajasthan.

Great day out with Terra.do : exploring our SUGi Pocket Forests in Central London. 🌿

🇱🇧 We celebrated 5 years at Beirut’s RiverLESS Forest with our friend & long time collaborator Adib Dada. 🌳Beirut RiverLESS Forest, SUGi’s first pocket forest, continues to grow its impact; planted over 8 phases (5 funded by SUGi), over 1,500 volunteers have come together to create this forest. ⚡ The transformation of the site is a testament to Adib’s dedication to his city, to reclaiming public space and to restoring biodiversity by moving from wasted public space to a vibrant hub for community connections. 📍 Over the past five years, the forest has become a place where people gather: to celebrate anniversaries, to host art & ecology events (including film screening & research installations) amongst many others. 🎉 We’re so incredibly proud of this collaboration! Discover the forest 👉 Link in comments #SUGi #PocketForest #Biodiversity #Cities #Plant

🇺🇸 Cooling pocket forest in Cambridge, MA, USA. The magic of SUGi Pocket Forests! 😎Check out this Urban Heat profile taken at our Danehy Park Forest in Cambridge. In certain places we measured up to 27.8 degrees celsius differences! 🌇With temperatures around the world rising to new levels (especially in cities), trees and urban forests offer a natural solution to the challenges we face in our cities. 🌳Having SUGi Pocket Forests integrated into our cities supports the health and wellbeing of communities. These forests do more than simply increase a location’s aesthetic; they protect us from the impact of the climate crisis by preventing flooding and mitigating the ‘Urban Heat Island effect’, and must be understood as a powerful tool. Source: Drone imagery and thermal data collection provided by Bio4Climate in partnership with Nicholas Geron from Salem State University. Find out more about the project. Link in Comments. Forest Maker: Ethan Bryson  Together with Maya Dutta , Alexandra Ionescu at Biodiversity for a Livable Climate

"Call me Sugi" 🌿. I get often asked what SUGi means. The Sugi Tree (Cryptomeria japonica) is a special tree species endemic to Japan. The Sugi tree is closely related to coastal Redwoods of North America. Those regal cathedrals symbolize longevity and strength. Redwoods are my favorite trees. Whilst living in San Francisco, I would escape the hustle and bustle of the city to seek out their healing presence. I reveled in that moment of being fully immersed in the forest. It gave an ancestral feeling of deep belonging. When I decided to dedicate myself to creating pocket forests in cities, I knew at once that SUGi would be the right name to capture and celebrate the sacred beauty, power, and purpose of Nature’s connection to human life.   #SUGi #Biodiversity Image: Redwoods, California, 2014 🌲 ☀

A visionary project is taking root in the dynamic city of Hong Kong, with plans to create a pocket forest at the edge of an e-waste recycling plant. Spanning 340 square meters, this green oasis will feature circular planting areas, preserving existing trees and enhancing the ecosystem. At the heart of this initiative is the Miyawaki Method, renowned for its ability to foster rapid growth and rich biodiversity in urban settings. By densely planting native trees and plants, we’re not only creating a lush green space but also improving air quality, reducing the urban heat island effect, and promoting environmental education. Thanks to our partners at SUGi, this pocket forest will be a beacon of sustainability and a testament to our commitment to a greener Hong Kong. Join us in celebrating this transformative project that will bring nature closer to our urban lives 🌳👏

🌳📐2.5 Years at the Tour & Taxis Forests in Brussels, Belgium SUGi’s Tour & Taxis Forest is situated in central Brussels, near the vibrant, cultural hub that is the Tour and Taxis complex. The area has a rich industrial history and played an integral part in the economic development of the city over the last 500 years. The site forms part of a large regeneration project spearheaded by the renowned architectural practice Bureau Bas Smets, and SUGi is thrilled to have had the opportunity to collaborate with them, in conjunction with Nicolas de Brabandère. The development saw a new residential neighborhood in the center of Brussels with 12 hectares of parkland. Our Tour & Taxis Forest is situated within this parkland. Find out more about the project. Link below. SUGi Forest Maker: Nicolas de Brabandère   Forest Partner: GBL  In collaboration with BUREAU BAS SMETS

📐SUGi Pocket Forests do not require a huge amount of space; you can plant them almost anywhere in sites as small as 3 square meters to 1 hectare. 🌱Even at this size, they fast become a habitat for countless species and offer multiple ecosystem services — all at once. These pocket forests are perfect for the fast regeneration of urban areas, and SUGi’s forest makers, from London to Beirut, have transformed school playgrounds, city parks and urban rivers from grey to green. We need the forest around us wherever we are! Instead of going out into the wilderness, the Miyawaki method brings the wild to you. The Miyawaki method is community-based and people-centred and can be used to reclaim and reimagine public space for the benefit of people and the planet. For SUGi founder Elise Van Middelem, it’s all about creating “pockets of hope.” “Within a forest, biodiversity means balance, Birds control pests, insects pollinate plants, and beneficial fungi keep the trees healthy. Every organism has a role to play, and all these roles interact. And if you build a healthy, biodiverse habitat that can look after itself, it becomes self-sustaining. You can step away and let nature get to work." — James Godfrey-Faussett, SUGi Lead Forest Maker #SUGi #Biodiversity #Cities