More than a million Indians have planted 220 million trees in a government campaign to tackle climate change and improve the environment in the country’s most populous state.
Forest official Bivhas Ranjan said students, legislators, officials and others planted dozens of species of saplings on Friday along roads, rail tracks and in forest land in northern Uttar Pradesh state. The target of 220 million saplings was achieved by 5pm.
Mr Ranjan said the trees, including 16 fruit species, will increase forest cover in the state.
“We set the target of 220 million because Uttar Pradesh is home to 220 million people,” said state chief minister Yogi Adityanath.
Planting was carried out in 1,430,381 places, including 60,000 villages and 83,000 sites in forest ranges.
The long-term survival of trees remains a concern. Usually, about 60% of saplings survive, with the rest succumbing to disease or lack of water, he said.
It was the second huge tree planting campaign in Uttar Pradesh. In July 2016, 50 million saplings were planted in a day.
