Introduction

India has faced serious environmental issues as a result of deforestation, industrial development, and intense population growth in recent decades. The loss of forest cover has led to a host of environmental problems including soil erosion, loss of habitat for wildlife, and declining air quality in some regions. To combat these issues, organizations and the government have taken significant measures to plant more trees throughout the country.

The Scope of Tree Planting in India

The Indian government has initiated a number of programs to address the impact of deforestation, such as the National Afforestation Programme (NAP) which aims to create new forest areas and expand existing ones. The government’s goal is to increase the country’s forest cover from the current level of approximately 24 percent to 33 percent by 2025. To achieve that goal, they have set a target to plant 2 billion trees each year.

Tree Planting Efforts across India

Tree planting efforts are being carried out by various groups across the country. Local communities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and non-profit organizations are also active in planting trees in various regions. A number of organizations have launched several initiatives aimed at planting trees, including the Green India Mission, which seeks to plant 10 million hectares of forest in the country over the next 10 years.

The Impact of Tree Planting Efforts in India

The eco-friendly measures taken in recent years, including the plantation of trees, have helped combat deforestation and restore the natural balance to some extent. In 2017, a total of 1.5 billion saplings were planted across the country, which represents a 46 percent increase from the previous year. In 2018, the number was over 2 billion saplings which was a record for the country. These tree planting efforts have had a positive impact on the climate and wildlife in the country.

The Challenges of Tree Planting in India

Despite the significant effort put into tree planting in India, there are still challenges that need to be overcome. The major challenge is to ensure the survival of the trees that have been planted. It is estimated that only 50-60% of planted saplings will survive due to lack of proper maintenance, water, and pests. Another issue is that only a few species of trees are being planted which leads to a lack of diversity in the forest. The challenges facing tree planting are well-recognized and steps are being taken to address them.

Conclusion

Overall, India has been making significant progress in tree planting, with programs and initiatives aimed at increasing forest cover and fighting deforestation. The government and volunteers' efforts combined have led to the planting of billions of trees each year. However, more needs to be done to ensure the survival of those trees and achieve the target of increasing forest cover to 33 percent by 2025. Moreover, it becomes important to maintain the diverse flora and fauna in the forests with proper care.