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Miyawaki forests and Breathable Sand to make deserts greener in Middle East

Dake Rechsand, a Dubai-based company offering sustainable solutions in water conservation and desert farming, is planning to develop green cover in deserts, using the innovative Miyawaki forest model, and the company’s latest technology, Breathable Sand

Dake Rechsand has partnered with management consulting firm, Investment Hub for a presentation,  titled ‘Ghaba: Miyawaki Forests can grow in deserts with Breathable Sand’, where sustainability advocates, thematic investors, and CSR-focused companies will be offered an opportunity to be a part of a potential green revolution in the Middle East. The investor presentation is scheduled for Wednesday, 8 September, at 18:00 CET. For more details, visit: https://go.investmenthub.io/investor-presentation-schedule-ghaba

Developed by renowned Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki, the model revolves around the regeneration of forests through shrubs, trees, and canopy layers; using a methodical approach involving soil analysis, resource analysis, and maintenance plan for the short term. The implementation of this model will achieve a green cover that is 30 times denser, and grows 10 times faster, than a typical meadow.

In addition, a matured Miyawaki forest has high survival rates, and can harbour 18 times more biodiversity, compared to the average forest cover, grown through conventional methods. These figures have been substantiated by more than 3,000 real-world instances of forests grown globally, using the Miyawaki model. However, due to arid climate, desert conditions, soil salinity, and water scarcity in the Middle East, this model was not considered feasible in the region before the emergence of Breathable Sand.

The water-retentive properties of Dake Rechsand’s Breathable Sand reduces irrigation requirements for optimal plant growth, by nearly 80%, when compared to conventional practices. At the same time, its air-permeability ensures sufficient oxygenation of roots; optimising nutrient supply, and reducing the amount of fertiliser used. In fact, Breathable Sand has been used to successfully green around 2,000 square kilometers, in one of the world’s most arid and hot deserts, in China.

Commenting on the upcoming presentation, and the possibilities it can enable in the Middle EastChandra Dake, CEO and founder of Dake Rechsand, said, “The Miyawaki model holds the answers to some of the pressing issues in the Middle East, and the world at large. It will enable the sustainable expansion of green cover at a scale previously unimaginable. And, in doing so, it will make a massive contribution to offsetting GHG emissions, and addressing climate change. Our goal for this year is to plant 200,000 trees, and follow up with another two million trees by 2022. With increased investor participation and multi-stakeholder engagement, we can scale up to ten million trees, which will have a profound effect on regional and global sustainability parameters”.

A fully-matured Miyawaki forest has the potential to reduce local temperature by two degrees celsius, reduce noises upto 10dB, and helps in 30 times more CO2 absorption, compared to monoculture plantation. A forest cover in an area of 5,000 square meters with 15,000 plants can absorb 300-350 tonnes of CO2 per year.

Roy Malmberg, founder of Investment Hub, said, “Dake Rechsand’s “Ghaba” drive, using the Miyawaki model, is an attractive alternative investment avenue, which has great long-term growth prospects. Investors have an option to buy the assets, retain direct ownership, generate carbon credits, and rake in returns; or diversify their holdings over time. With a rising ESG focus refashioning the portfolios of a rapidly growing segment of investors, this presentation is a particularly timely event, for the market.”