From heatwaves to green waves: UP plans mega plantation drive

Uttar Pradesh is getting ready for a huge plantation drive in July 2025. The state plans to plant 35 crore saplings during this campaign. This is a big jump from 2016, when only 5 crore saplings were planted. It shows a 600% increase in less than 10 years.

The plantation drive will take place from July 1 to July 7. The goal is to grow more trees and improve the state’s environment. The Forest Department is busy preparing for the event. From nurseries to plantation sites, everything is being made ready. Officials want to make this the biggest and most successful drive so far.

Nurseries verflowing with Saplings

In Lucknow, at the Sheeshambagh nursery, forester Noor Alam is working hard in the heat. He is making sure that all saplings are healthy and ready for transport. The temperature is nearly 42°C with 70% humidity, but workers are not slowing down.

There are 1,901 nurseries across Uttar Pradesh. All are filled with young plants. In Sheeshambagh alone, there are 2.25 lakh saplings—twice the nursery’s actual capacity. These saplings will soon be taken to plantation sites across the state.

The Forest Department has planned the movement of saplings very carefully. The transport of saplings will start on June 28 so that even the farthest plantation sites receive their saplings at least one day before the drive starts.

At each plantation site, the goal is to begin planting around 6 a.m. on the first day. Government staff, volunteers, and local workers will all take part. It’s a team effort to green the state and improve the environment.

The plantation drive is not a new idea. In fact, Uttar Pradesh has been working on this since 2015. That year, the state made headlines by planting 10 lakh saplings in just 8 hours. Since then, the campaign has grown stronger every year.

In 2018, UP planted 11.77 crore saplings. Now, in 2025, the target is 35 crore—more than triple that number. Officials say this kind of growth is possible due to better planning, improved technology, and strong coordination between departments.

Deepak Kumar, the state’s nodal officer for plantation, says that the effort has already had a big impact on the state’s ecology. Tree cover has increased. Carbon levels have improved. The drive has helped both the environment and the people who depend on it.

Uttar Pradesh is a big state with a large population. Around 70% of the people here depend on agriculture. This puts a lot of pressure on land, trees, and water. But the state has still managed to increase its green cover.

The Forest Research Institute in Dehradun reported that India’s forest carbon stock increased by 1.13% between 2021 and 2023. In UP, the increase was even higher—2.46%. This shows that the plantation efforts are working.

The Tree Outside Forest (ToF) cover is another good sign. It refers to tree cover on lands that are not officially classified as forests. India’s average ToF cover is 3.41%, but UP has a better number—3.72%. This means more trees are being grown even on farmland and other areas.

A total of 47.27 crore saplings are being prepared for this campaign. These include:

• 14.71 crore saplings from earlier years (old stock)

• 32.54 crore new saplings from this year

• 3.17 crore saplings from private nurseries

• 1.55 crore saplings from the horticulture department

• 33 lakh saplings from the silk department

These saplings include a variety of plants:

• 18.60 crore timber trees like teak and sheesham

• 10.79 crore fruit trees like mango and guava

• 5.75 crore medicinal trees like neem and drumstick

• 29 lakh sacred trees like peepal and banyan

Each of UP’s 18 divisions has been given a planting target. Lucknow has the highest target—4 crore saplings. Kanpur is next with 3.13 crore. The numbers are carefully planned based on land availability and need.

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Land and soil ready for planting

The Forest Department has decided that at least 1,600 saplings should be planted per hectare of land. Teams have already visited plantation sites to check if the soil is ready. In most places, soil work is either finished or nearly done.

Divisional forest officers have confirmed that the land is being prepared well. This ensures that the saplings will survive and grow. Good soil is key to healthy trees, and this time, every detail is being checked before planting starts.

According to the Forest Survey of India’s 2021 report, UP’s green cover is 9.23% of its total land area. That means around 55.59 lakh acres of the state are green. This is an improvement from 2015, when the cover was just 8.93% or 53.61 lakh acres.

However, the state wants to go further. The goal is to reach 15% green cover. To do this, UP must add another 34.35 lakh acres of green space. That would take the total to over 90 lakh acres. It’s a big challenge—but also a big opportunity.

Sunil Chaudhary, the head of UP’s forest force, says that the department is ready. More staff will be deployed if needed. The goal is not just to plant trees, but to make sure they survive and grow.

The saplings will reach the plantation sites at least one day in advance. This gives enough time to plan the event properly. On the day of planting—likely July 1—teams will begin work at sunrise, around 6 a.m.

The Forest Department will work with volunteers, schools, colleges, local bodies, and citizens. Everyone will help in planting the saplings. The idea is to make it a people’s movement. The more people take part, the better the result.

Command centres will be set up to monitor progress. Officials will keep track of the number of saplings planted in each area. The aim is not just to meet targets, but to make sure each sapling has a chance to grow.

Uttar Pradesh has already shown that such big drives can work. In earlier years, many saplings planted during these drives have grown into trees. They now provide shade, fruit, wood, and clean air.

The Forest Department says it has learned from past experience. This time, the planning is even better. GPS tools, satellite maps, and mobile tracking apps are being used to track every step of the drive.

Plantation drives are also creating jobs for nursery workers, transporters, and field staff. Farmers are getting fruit trees for free, which may help them earn more in the future. So the benefits are both environmental and economic.

This July, as the monsoon reaches Uttar Pradesh, the rains will help millions of saplings take root. The state hopes that with care and teamwork, the 35 crore trees planted will grow into forests, orchards, and green spaces.

This mission is more than just a record-breaking event. It is a step towards a cleaner, greener, and healthier future for the people of Uttar Pradesh—and a model for other states in India.

By planting more trees, the state is also planting hope.