Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday, 5 June revealed that the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) have collectively planted 6.40 crore trees across India over the past eight years, underlining the paramilitary's expanding role in environmental conservation alongside its security mandate. Shah made the disclosure while addressing Border Security Force (BSF) personnel at the Lankamura Border Outpost along the India–Bangladesh border in West Tripura district, on the occasion of World Environment Day.

Key Announcements on Afforestation

Shah said that since 2019, CAPF units have planted trees of various species in a sustained nationwide drive. He noted, however, that this year's plantation target would be moderated — between 40 lakh and 60 lakh trees — as a portion of the effort would be redirected toward replanting in areas where earlier saplings did not survive.

'Since 2019, the CAPF collectively has planted over 6.40 crore trees of various species across the country. This year, around 40 lakh to 60 lakh trees will be planted, and replantation will be undertaken in areas where earlier plantations did not survive,' Shah said.

Looking ahead, he added that the CAPF plans to plant two crore trees in the next year as part of a continued commitment to expanding India's forest cover.

Climate Concerns Driving the Push

Shah highlighted rapid urbanisation and large-scale tree felling as primary drivers of rising temperatures and climate disruption. He warned that unchecked environmental degradation was adversely affecting agriculture, human health, and the integrity of the ozone layer.

'The rising temperature of the Earth, climate change, and large holes in the ozone layer will make the planet uninhabitable if we do not act today and work to repair the damage,' the Home Minister cautioned.

He stressed that increasing forest cover, protecting existing forests, and adopting environment-friendly practices are the only credible responses to worsening climate conditions.

India's Climate Commitments and the Paris Agreement

Shah noted that India is actively following the Paris Agreement on climate change and said the country's model of climate action was recognised at the Paris Conference as an 'ideal framework.' He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi with initiating coordinated measures to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, promote eco-friendly electricity generation, and minimise energy consumption.

Shah urged all stakeholders — government, civil society, and citizens — to undertake large-scale afforestation for the benefit of future generations, saying people must 'care for the environment as they do for their children and loved ones.'

Ceremony at Lankamura Border Outpost

On the sidelines of the address, Shah, alongside Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha and other dignitaries, planted saplings of various species at the Lankamura Border Outpost. The symbolic gesture, on World Environment Day, was intended to reinforce the CAPF's green mandate at a frontier location that straddles both national security and ecological responsibility.

With two crore trees targeted for plantation next year and a focus on survivability over raw numbers, the CAPF's green drive is set to enter a more quality-focused phase.