Microforests at Earth Week
On April 25, to celebrate the fifth day of Earth Week, Santa Monica College (SMC) installed a “microforest” on the main campus. This miniature ecosystem is located between the Humanities & Social Science Building (HSS) and the Business Building (BUS).
The event marking the opening of the forest began with a gathering of students interested in ecology and biodiversity. Around half an hour after the start of the event, the president of Santa Monica College, Dr. Kathryn E. Jeffery, arrived and spoke about this monumental opening.
“SMC is taking a very important step to address climate change with the first microforest at a US Community College,” said Jeffery.
SMC Director of Sustainability Ferris Kawar, the first-ever director of Sustainability at a community college, said this: “[Microforest] would lead to less maintenance and less water, create biodiversity, and allow native insects and animals to return, and it's really crucial that we give nature a chance to rebound.”
Kawar's statement emphasizes the positive potential of microforests while also addressing the concerns of climate activists who advocate for more sustainable approaches to green space management. In this context, microforests stand out as a promising solution, as they recycle their own water and mitigate the environmental impact associated with traditional landscaping practices, which lead to high water wastage.
The microforests not only addresses the climate crisis but also paves the way for a plethora of unique learning opportunities for SMC students, sparking their curiosity and passion for environmental studies.
Biology professors Poliana Raymer and Jessie Salter were among those who shared their excitement about the possibility of using the microforest as a teaching platform. Salter, who teaches Organismal and Environmental Biology, mentioned that part of her course involves studying the effects of urbanization on creatures such as insects, and she is interested in studying the microforest with her students.
This was not the only microforest installed in the city of Santa Monica. On April 27, the City of Santa Monica concluded Earth Week with the country’s first median microforest at the Olympic Boulevard median.
The installation of these microforests is a testament to the power of collaboration, with SMC, the City of Santa Monica, and the Malibu Foundation joining forces to achieve a greener, more sustainable future.
