Ecologist and Urban Forest Maker Dr Grey Coupland, from Murdoch University’s Harry Butler Institute, works with schools and community groups to plant miniature forests in urban settings to restore biodiversity.

Based on a method developed by Japanese botanist Professor Akira Miyawaki, Dr Coupland and citizen scientists plant dense forests using locally indigenous species to help rehabilitate degraded areas.

She guides and mentors the participants as they monitor their forest, learning valuable STEM skills and seeing the tangible impact of their environmental stewardship.

‘Pocket forests’ are now found at primary schools across Perth and Western Australia, with four more being planted this month. And soon the young scientists will connect with peers in the United States and Chile through the Sister Forest program, sharing their journeys as they work to address climate change, one tree at a time.