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UP Plants 40 Crore Saplings: Green Drive Expands in 2026
29 Jun
Summary
- Uttar Pradesh to plant over 40 crore saplings in 2026, an increase from last year.
- Over 5.25 lakh plantation sites are prepared for the state's flagship campaign.
- The drive will focus on fruit-bearing, timber, medicinal, and environmental species.
Uttar Pradesh is set to significantly expand its green cover in 2026 with a target of planting over 40 crore saplings. This ambitious initiative marks an increase from last year's efforts, with preparations well underway for the state's flagship plantation campaign, anticipated to occur in the second week of July.
Forest department officials confirmed that over 5.25 lakh plantation sites are in the final stages of preparation. The sapling distribution plan allocates 14.5 crore to the forest department and an additional 25.5 crore to other government departments, totaling a massive greening effort across the state.
The species selection prioritizes environmental benefits and community needs, with fruit-bearing and timber varieties forming over 60% of the target. Medicinal, aromatic, and fodder species are also included, alongside locally suitable options to ensure ecological balance and community engagement.
This drive continues Uttar Pradesh's commitment to increasing its forest cover, which currently stands at 9.96%. The government aims to boost this to 15%, building on the billions of saplings planted in previous years.
