In a major boost to its climate and biodiversity goals, India has greened 93.7 lakh hectares through extensive afforestation efforts over the past five years, the government announced on July 31. States like Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, and Gujarat have led these efforts, supported by a network of national schemes and public participation campaigns.
The initiative gained renewed momentum with the launch of ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ on World Environment Day (June 5, 2024). The campaign emphasizes collective responsibility, blending the efforts of government bodies and civil society to encourage voluntary tree planting across the country.
Union Minister of State for Environment, Kirti Vardhan Singh, informed the Rajya Sabha that India’s greening strategy draws strength from existing programs like the National Mission for Green India, Nagar Van Yojana, MISHTI, and CAMPA, among others. Rather than launching new schemes, the government is integrating and optimizing current programs to drive results.
“The focus is on convergence getting all departments and citizens to plant trees and protect ecosystems. It’s a unified approach,” Singh stated.
According to a recent official review, this integrated model has led to a measurable rise in India’s forest and tree cover, reinforcing commitments under national climate policies and global biodiversity frameworks.
With the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ movement gaining traction, the Ministry of Environment hopes to further involve schools, NGOs, corporates, and panchayats, turning tree planting into a mass citizen movement that contributes both to carbon sequestration and local ecological resilience.