Uttar Pradesh aims to boost green cover with large-scale plantation drives
Uttar Pradesh is preparing for another large-scale plantation drive in 2026, targeting the planting of 35 crore saplings across the state. This initiative follows last year’s record-setting effort when 37.21 crore saplings were planted in a single day, contributing to a broader nine-year effort that has seen over 242 crore saplings planted under various campaigns. According to the India State of Forest Report 2023, these efforts have resulted in an increase of 559.19 square kilometers of forest cover in the state.
The planned plantation drives include urban and rural areas, with a recent ‘Mega Plantation Drive’ in Varanasi’s Sujabad Domri area seeing 2,51,446 saplings planted in just one hour. This event was recognized by a Guinness World Records judge, highlighting the scale of community participation. Initiatives such as the distribution of ‘Green Gold Certificates’ to children born in early July 2025, along with saplings given to their families, are part of efforts to encourage environmental awareness among younger generations.
The state government has allocated significant resources for these activities, proposing ₹800 crore for the Social Forestry Scheme, ₹220 crore for Nursery Management, and ₹189 crore for the State Compensatory Afforestation Scheme in the recent budget. Preparations for the monsoon 2026 plantation drive are already underway, with directions issued to nurseries, departments, and district administrations to coordinate sapling production and planting activities.
In addition to mass planting initiatives, Uttar Pradesh has implemented the ‘Green Chaupal’ program, aimed at increasing public engagement in environmental conservation. Organized at the Gram Sabha level in over 15,000 villages, these meetings are chaired by local leaders and involve members of all sections of society, ensuring regular discussion and participation in greening efforts. The state has set a target to increase its green cover to 15 percent by 2030, emphasizing the need to turn plantation campaigns into a sustained, widespread movement.
The planned plantation drives include urban and rural areas, with a recent ‘Mega Plantation Drive’ in Varanasi’s Sujabad Domri area seeing 2,51,446 saplings planted in just one hour. This event was recognized by a Guinness World Records judge, highlighting the scale of community participation. Initiatives such as the distribution of ‘Green Gold Certificates’ to children born in early July 2025, along with saplings given to their families, are part of efforts to encourage environmental awareness among younger generations.
The state government has allocated significant resources for these activities, proposing ₹800 crore for the Social Forestry Scheme, ₹220 crore for Nursery Management, and ₹189 crore for the State Compensatory Afforestation Scheme in the recent budget. Preparations for the monsoon 2026 plantation drive are already underway, with directions issued to nurseries, departments, and district administrations to coordinate sapling production and planting activities.
In addition to mass planting initiatives, Uttar Pradesh has implemented the ‘Green Chaupal’ program, aimed at increasing public engagement in environmental conservation. Organized at the Gram Sabha level in over 15,000 villages, these meetings are chaired by local leaders and involve members of all sections of society, ensuring regular discussion and participation in greening efforts. The state has set a target to increase its green cover to 15 percent by 2030, emphasizing the need to turn plantation campaigns into a sustained, widespread movement.
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