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Target 15% green cover by 2030, 20% by 2047, says CM Yogi
Calling micro-planning the foundation of the campaign, the chief minister stressed effective implementation of plans at both rural and urban levels. Officials said that 1,935 departmental nurseries are currently operational in the state and arrangements are being made to ensure the availability of more than 500 million saplings, for which 34 new nurseries have also been established.
Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday directed officials to prioritise large-scale plantation along both sides of the recently inaugurated Ganga Expressway, while asking every Anganwadi centre to plant at least five drumstick (moringa) saplings and each student in schools and colleges to plant at least one sapling.
Uttar Pradesh has set a target of planting 35 crore saplings in a single day as part of its plantation drive this year.
Reviewing preparations for the Mega Plantation Campaign-2026, the chief minister said, “Uttar Pradesh must move rapidly towards a green revolution and achieve the target of 15% green cover by 2030 and 20% by 2047 under all circumstances.”
As per official data, 514.8 million saplings were planted between 2009 and 2016, and the number increased to 2.4213 billion between 2017 and 2025. During the same period, an increase of 3.38 lakh acres in forest and tree cover was recorded, taking the state’s green cover to nearly 9.96%. In terms of carbon stock growth, the state has surpassed the national average of 1.13% by registering a growth rate of 2.46%.
Calling micro-planning the foundation of the campaign, the chief minister stressed effective implementation of plans at both rural and urban levels.
Officials said that 1,935 departmental nurseries are currently operational in the state and arrangements are being made to ensure the availability of more than 500 million saplings, for which 34 new nurseries have also been established.
Officials said that plantation activities are being monitored through digital platforms such as the ‘Haritima’ app, GIS mapping, QR code-based tracking, Plantation Monitoring System (PMS), and Nursery Management System (MMS). A special survey conducted in 2025 recorded an 80% survival rate of saplings planted by the forest department.
Adityanath laid stress on planting species associated with the Ramayana era in Ayodhya this year. The chief minister directed all departments to prepare their detailed action plans by May 30 and ensure plantation activities are carried out according to the prescribed timeline.
Forest, environment and climate change minister Arun K Saxena, principal secretary (forest and environment) V Hekali Zhimomi, head of Uttar Pradesh Forest Force and principal chief conservator of forests UP Sunil Chaudhary, and other senior officials were present in the meeting.
