Dhaka North launches country’s largest Miyawaki urban forest in Uttara

Dhaka North City Corporation has initiated the country’s largest urban forest under the Miyawaki method in a bid to address rising air, water and soil pollution in Dhaka.

The project was inaugurated today (18 May) at the greenbelt area on the eastern side of Lake Road near Diabari Bridge in Uttara, where tree plantation activities officially began.

Dhaka North City Corporation Administrator Md Shafiqul Islam Khan inaugurated the programme and said that urban life rarely offers initiatives where people can directly experience the benefits of trees. 

He expressed hope that the project would be given top priority, adding that such green spaces would have positive impacts on both physical and mental health.

According to Dhaka North City Corporation, more than 39,000 trees are being planted in the second phase of the project, as part of a five-year plan to plant 500,000 trees in the area. The first phase had already completed plantation of 14,000 trees between 26 November 2025 and 15 January 2026.

The ongoing phases will cover around 2.60 acres and include nearly 250 species of trees, including fruit-bearing, flowering, medicinal, timber, ornamental, coniferous, shrubs and bushes.

The Miyawaki plantation follows biophilic design and biomimicry principles, with terrain features such as small hills, winding pathways and lakeside walking tracks. The soil has been specially prepared using a mix of loam soil, vermicompost, coco dust, rice husk, bone meal and organic fertiliser.

DNCC said the project also incorporates the Japanese concept of “Shinrin-yoku” or forest bathing, allowing visitors to walk through dense green cover for therapeutic benefits.

DNCC has also submitted a five-year plan to the ministry aiming to plant 500,000 trees as part of the government’s nationwide target of 2.5 billion trees, with a goal of planting 50,000 trees by December 2026.