U.P. plans to plant 50 million saplings on Independence Day.

Uttar Pradesh is gearing up to embark on a massive tree-planting initiative on Independence Day, with plans to sow 5 crore saplings across the state. This endeavor comes on the heels of a remarkable achievement on July 22, when a staggering 30,21,51,570 saplings were planted within a single day.

Under the state's ambitious annual plantation goal of 35 crore saplings for this year, a monumental 30 crore were successfully planted on the aforementioned July date. The city of Lucknow alone contributed 27,29,538 saplings to this commendable effort. SK Sharma, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest and Head of Forest Force Uttar Pradesh, confirmed that the saplings are now ready for their designated planting spots.

A multifaceted approach to planting

The upcoming tree-planting campaign will take place at approximately 5,000 locations previously utilized during the July 22 plantation drive. With soil preparations completed and saplings strategically positioned, the target of planting 5 crore saplings is anticipated to be met by afternoon, as per a senior official from the forest department.
This initiative provides an opportunity for citizens to forge a connection with nature. People have the chance to plant saplings in honor of their parents or elderly family members, while children are encouraged to plant a sapling and nurture it to maturity, thus ensuring a future source of oxygen. Dr. Abhishek Shukla, a member of the State Council for Senior Citizens, highlighted the significance of this engagement with nature.

ALSO READ: New Noida: A Vision for Balanced Urban Growth in the National Capital Region

Forests flourish in Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh has been steadfastly expanding its forest cover and tree canopy. From 2017-18 to 2022-23, a grand total of 136.98 crore saplings have been planted across the state. The forest department and other state departments collaborated to achieve this impressive number, with 49.88 crore saplings planted by the forest department and 82.10 crore by other departments.

ALSO READ: U.P. BJP chief attributes partition blame to Congress

Encouragingly, data from the Forest Survey of India reveals notable growth in both forest cover and tree cover in Uttar Pradesh. The forest cover has expanded by 417 square kilometers (0.18 percent), and tree cover has increased by 377 square kilometers (0.16 percent). The overall green area in the state has amplified by 794 square kilometers, resulting in a remarkable 9.23 percent increase, as confirmed by the forest department's report.