Bharat’s mega-plantation drives have become more than symbolic tree-planting events; they now reflect a broader shift toward ecological restoration, climate adaptation, and long-term land management. The most recent example is Gujarat’s “Namo Van” near Morbi, where one million saplings were planted across 1,200 bigha in 37 days, turning barren land near Machhu Dam into a dense Miyawaki forest.

Bharat’s green cover shift

The national picture shows gradual improvement, but the gains are still modest. Bharat’s forest and tree cover reached 25.17% of the country’s geographical area in ISFR 2023, up from 24.01% in 2013, while forest cover alone rose only slightly to 21.76%. The bigger change came from tree cover outside forests, which expanded from roughly 91,000 sq km in 2013 to more than 112,000 sq km by 2026, mainly through agroforestry, plantations, and private farm trees.

This distinction matters because much of the visible growth in “green cover” is not the same as the recovery of natural forests. Reports note that Bharat has also lost substantial dense forest area over the last two decades, even as the overall tree-and-forest total rose. In other words, the country is adding greenery, but not always restoring ecosystems at the same pace.

The 11 initiatives

Here is a narrative overview of the 11 initiatives compiled in the report, spanning state-led campaigns, river-basin restoration, urban greening, and community-based afforestation. These efforts show two major models: one-off record drives and sustained missions that plant year after year.

1. Gujarat’s Namo Van, Morbi (2026). A barren stretch near Machhu Dam was converted into Gujarat’s largest Miyawaki forest at a single site, with more than one million saplings planted across 1,200 bigha in 37 days.
2. Indore’s Guinness record (2024). Madhya Pradesh’s Indore planted over 1.1 million saplings in a single day, becoming a global benchmark for mass plantation drives.
3. Odisha’s single-day drive (2025). Odisha crossed the one-crore sapling mark in one day under “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0,” showing the scale possible through coordinated state mobilisation.
4. Rajasthan’s Mission Hariyalo Rajasthan (2025). The state planted 10.21 crore saplings, surpassing its target of 10 crore and adding tools like drone seeding and district-level nurseries.
5. Uttar Pradesh’s statewide drive (2024). UP planted 36.51 crore saplings in a day across all 18 divisions, making it one of the largest plantation campaigns recorded in Bharat.
6. Bihar’s Jal-Jeevan-Hariyali Mission (2019–2026). Bihar planted 21.25 crore saplings over several years, showing a sustained decentralised model tied to livelihood, nursery development, and agroforestry.
7. Maharashtra’s plantation mission (2019–2026). Maharashtra planted 33.12 crore saplings and later set a longer-term target of 300 crore trees under its green mission framework.
8. Madhya Pradesh’s Narmada basin drive (2017). The state planted 6.63 crore saplings in 12 hours along the Narmada basin, linking plantation with river protection, groundwater recharge, and erosion control.
9. Gujarat’s riverine afforestation plan (2026). The state launched a campaign along 185 rivers to expand green cover, reduce erosion, and improve groundwater through GIS-based planning.
10. Adani Foundation’s Mundra afforestation (2020–2024). More than 1.70 lakh trees were planted across villages and public spaces, with the project later recognised for community participation and local environmental impact.
11. Gurugram’s urban greening drive (2026). Municipal and development authorities targeted over 14 lakh saplings across roadsides, parks, and cremation grounds to address pollution and urban heat stress.

What stands out

The strongest examples are not only the biggest numbers but the ones that combine plantation with maintenance, irrigation, soil preparation, and site-specific ecology. Morbi’s Namo Van used silt, cow dung manure, fencing, levelling, and drip irrigation, which helps explain why the forest developed quickly into a stable green zone. Bihar’s mission is also notable because it ties plantation to local institutions and rural livelihoods rather than treating trees as a one-day achievement.

The Gujarat riverbank plan and the Narmada basin drive highlight another important trend: restoration is increasingly being linked to rivers, erosion control, and groundwater recharge, not just to tree counts. That makes these campaigns more ecologically meaningful than headline-grabbing plantation drives alone.

Ecological meaning

Bharat’s mangrove cover has also shown a small but positive rise, reaching 4,991.68 sq km in ISFR 2023, with gains in states such as Odisha and Goa helping offset losses elsewhere. This matters because mangroves are among the most effective natural barriers against storms, salinity intrusion, and coastal erosion. Together with the rise in tree cover outside forests, it suggests that Bharat is building more green assets, even if natural forest regeneration remains uneven.

Satellite monitoring and digital tracking have improved the credibility of large plantation drives, but numbers alone cannot capture ecological quality. Dense natural forests continue to face pressure, and plantation success depends on species choice, survival rates, canopy structure, and long-term protection. The real test is not how many saplings are planted, but how many mature into functioning ecosystems.

Conclusion

The 11 initiatives in this report show a clear national pattern: Bharat is moving from isolated plantation events toward more organised greening missions, but the ecological outcomes vary widely. Gujarat’s Namo Van is a powerful current example because it combines speed, scale, and site restoration, while Bihar, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh show how sustained plantation models can create longer-term impact. The larger story is encouraging, but Bharat’s challenge remains the same: convert plantation enthusiasm into durable, high-quality forests and landscapes.

Source: 11 Initiatives of Mega-Plantation and Ecological Restoration in India (2015-2026)