'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam': Over 1 Crore People Join Massive Tree Plantation Drive In Uttar Pradesh (VIDEO)

Lucknow: In an unprecedented green initiative, more than a million people across Uttar Pradesh came together on Wednesday to plant 37 crore saplings in a single day under the state government’s ambitious campaign, ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ (One Tree for Mother). The initiative aims to fight climate change, enhance the environment, and boost green cover in India’s most populous state.

Launched by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Ayodhya, the campaign saw him plant peepal, banyan, and neem trees and take a symbolic selfie to encourage public participation. “Plant a tree to nurture the present and save the future,” he urged. “Every single tree can be a lifeline. Without them, carbon emissions rise, pollution worsens, and respiratory diseases increase. Eventually, it leads to premature deaths. Plant a tree in your mother’s name and help prevent that.”

The plantation drive, carried out along roadsides, rail tracks, forest lands, and institutional premises, included a mix of 16 fruit-bearing species and indigenous varieties. According to a state government spokesperson, the massive tree-planting target was achieved by 6 p.m. on Wednesday, with over 37 crore saplings planted across all 75 districts.

Participants ranged from students and lawmakers to farmers, civil servants, lawyers, and members of over 15,000 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs). The effort mobilized 60,182 public representatives, 3.4 crore students, 2.24 crore farmers, nearly 13.5 lakh government employees, 4.7 lakh advocates, and more than 27,000 voluntary organizations.

Even young children joined the mission. In Lucknow, seven-year-old Kavya Sharma skipped school to plant two saplings in a forest range, symbolizing the enthusiastic public response to the campaign.

The Chief Minister described the campaign as an expression of gratitude to both Mother Earth and biological mothers. Citing the Vedic verse ‘Mata Bhoomih Putro Aham Prithivyah’ (The Earth is my mother and I am her son), Yogi Adityanath said, “A true son is one who protects and serves his mother.”

Over the last eight years, Uttar Pradesh has planted more than 204 crore saplings, with an estimated 75% survival rate, according to the government. This has helped transform nearly five lakh acres into green areas, significantly boosting the state’s forest and tree cover.

“We have turned the heatwave into a green wave,” the Chief Minister said. “This drive contributes not just to environmental cleanliness, but also plays a key role in mitigating the effects of climate change.”

Quoting pioneering scientist Jagadish Chandra Bose, Yogi Adityanath reminded the public that trees are living beings and are essential for providing shade, food, conserving soil, and combating pollution.

State Forest, Environment, and Climate Change Minister Arun Kumar Saxena added that the plantation target for this year was increased by two crore saplings compared to the previous year. He cited the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023, which showed that Uttar Pradesh now has 9.96% green cover of its total geographical area — the second-highest growth among Indian states.

According to the ISFR-2023, Uttar Pradesh’s forest cover has grown to 15,045.80 sq km (6.24%), up from 14,927.37 sq km (6.20%) in 2021. Its tree cover also rose significantly to 8,950.92 sq km (3.72%) in 2023 from 8,510.16 sq km (3.53%) in 2021.

While the mass planting initiative has drawn praise for its scale and community involvement, officials acknowledge that long-term tree survival remains a concern. On average, around 60% of saplings survive, with the rest perishing due to inadequate care, disease, or lack of water.

Nevertheless, the campaign marks a major step in Uttar Pradesh’s environmental strategy — blending record-breaking numbers with a strong emotional and cultural appeal to inspire collective action for a greener tomorrow.