The Gujarat government has set a target of planting more than 5.51 crore saplings across 74,453 hectares under this year's Van Mahotsav campaign, while the state Forest Department plans to distribute approximately 11.80 crore saplings through a network of 423 government nurseries to expand green cover and deepen public participation in afforestation efforts.

Key Initiatives Driving the Drive

The plantation push will be carried out under two parallel programmes: the state's 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 3.0' initiative and the annual Van Mahotsav campaign. Government nurseries across all districts have prepared saplings of multiple species, to be made available to citizens, local bodies, and organisations at affordable prices.

Forest and Environment Minister Arjun Modhwadia said the nursery network has been scaled to serve a wide range of stakeholders. 'Whether saplings are required for plantation along roads in hilly areas, in revenue areas, under forest cover models, by individuals who wish to plant trees, by municipalities, municipal corporations or voluntary organisations, a large number of controlled and well-prepared saplings are available to meet the needs of all these stakeholders,' he said.

Van Kavach and Micro Forests

As part of its broader afforestation strategy, the Forest Department has expanded the scope of its Van Kavach programme, which focuses on developing micro forests. During the current year, the department plans to establish Van Kavach sites at around 300 locations covering approximately 440 hectares.

This comes amid growing recognition that micro forest models — which pack dense, native-species plantings into small urban and peri-urban plots — can deliver faster canopy closure and biodiversity returns than conventional linear plantation drives.

Green Wall of Aravalli and Mangrove Push

The state has also fixed targets under the 'Green Wall of Aravalli' project, with plantation planned across 6,652 hectares. Additionally, mangrove plantation has been earmarked over 20,100 hectares. According to the government, these initiatives are aimed at mitigating the effects of climate change, enhancing carbon sequestration, and strengthening natural ecosystems.

Notably, Gujarat's coastline — among the longest of any Indian state — makes mangrove restoration a critical buffer against cyclonic weather and coastal erosion, lending the 20,100-hectare mangrove target particular strategic weight.

Voices from the Ground

Nitin Patel, a resident of Banaskantha, welcomed the initiative, linking it to the broader climate crisis. 'Today, the problem of global warming is increasing day by day across the world. It is highly commendable that the Gujarat government has been organising Van Mahotsav for the past few years to protect the environment and plant trees. Gradually, people have become more aware about it,' he said.

Mayur, a young farmer from Deesa, pointed to the practical value of the nursery network. 'These government nurseries provide almond trees, neem trees, lemon trees, sesame plants and wide other varieties of saplings, and they are available at reasonable prices. I appeal to everyone to take advantage of this, and I also thank the government because this is its objective,' he said.

Long-Term Outlook

The state government expects the expanded plantation targets and wider sapling distribution network to support long-term efforts to increase Gujarat's green cover. With Van Mahotsav observed annually as a platform for public participation in environmental conservation, the 2025 edition marks one of the most ambitious editions in recent years — both in scale of planting and in the breadth of institutional programmes running alongside it.