Uttar Pradesh will hold a statewide mega tree-planting drive on July 12, 2026, under the Vriksharopan Mahayagya 2026 and the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” campaign. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath reviews preparations via video conferencing and calls the effort a public movement involving citizens, public representatives, students, farmers, voluntary organisations and multiple government departments. Officials say 35 crore saplings are targeted to be planted across the state in a single day, with emphasis on protecting each sapling after planting and completing advance preparations such as site verification, pit digging, irrigation arrangements, geo-tagging and monitoring.

The Forest Department, described as the nodal agency, reports that 57.62 crore saplings are ready in about 2,600 nurseries statewide, including departmental nurseries and private nurseries. Department-wise targets include the Forest Department (about 15.5 crore, with additional special roadside drives), Rural Development (10 crore), Agriculture (3.25 crore), Horticulture (1.5 crore) and Panchayati Raj (about 1.22 crore), among others. Separate plantation components include “Mission Chhaya” for shade-giving trees along roads and Ganga Expressway, supported by fencing and drip irrigation. The CM is set to launch the drive from Gorakhpur by planting saplings near the Gorakhpur Link Expressway and Tal Ring Road.