Under the dynamic leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Uttar Pradesh has witnessed a remarkable transformation in environmental conservation. From once battling intense heatwaves, the state is now turning into a green powerhouse, setting benchmarks in ecological restoration and sustainable development.
A flagship initiative of this movement is the mega plantation campaign under the theme “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0,” which marked a historic milestone in 2025 with the plantation of over 37.21 crore saplings in a single year. Over the past eight years, Uttar Pradesh has planted more than 240 crore saplings, making it one of the most extensive green drives in the country.
What makes this campaign stand out is not just the scale, but its success on the ground. According to the Forest Department, the overall survival rate of saplings planted between 2021 and 2025 stands at an impressive 86.67%. The steadily rising annual survival rates reflect the strong post-plantation care and community involvement across the state. These figures underscore the seriousness with which the campaign is being implemented, not just as a symbolic gesture but as a sustained ecological effort.
CM Yogi’s green vision emphasizes long-term impact rather than short-term results. His aim is to restore ecological balance by nurturing each plant and strengthening forest ecosystems. To support this, the Forest Department has enforced robust monitoring and evaluation systems to ensure accountability at every level.
Since 2017, Uttar Pradesh has seen an unprecedented increase of around 5 lakh acres in green cover. The forest and tree cover has grown from 9.18% to nearly 10%. Between 2017 and 2023, the state added approximately 3.38 lakh acres of tree cover, making it the second-leading state in India in terms of green cover expansion.
The Forest Survey of India’s 2023 report revealed that the tree cover outside forest areas in the state rose by 3.72%, surpassing the national average of 3.41%. Furthermore, the state recorded a 2.46% increase in forest carbon stock, nearly double the national average. This equates to the absorption of roughly 72 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, contributing significantly to India’s climate goals and global environmental commitments. Under CM Yogi Adityanath’s leadership, Uttar Pradesh is proving that green growth and sustainable progress can go hand in hand.
