In a historic feat, 1.5 million volunteers from the state of Madhya Pradesh planted 66 million trees in just 12 hours to create a Guinness World Record.
In the backdrop of pan India burning under the scorching summer heat and the environmentalists repeatedly emphasizing on the importance of growing trees, the efforts that are taken by the MP people certainly is praiseworthy.
The volunteers planted the saplings of 20 different species in 24 districts along the side of the Narmada river basin to ensure better survival rate.
Efforts Better Previous Feat By Uttar Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh has indeed set up a great example in front of all the states who must contribute in a similar way to ensure that the plantations of more trees are encouraged across the country. But prior to MP, the state of Uttar Pradesh made a record of planting 50 million trees in just one day in July 2016. 800,000 volunteers participated in this record-breaking feat.
The Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, “I am extremely proud to happily share that people of Madhya Pradesh successfully planted 6.63 Crore saplings today. I am greatly indebted to all who are planting trees today.”
He further added, “We will be contributing significantly in saving nature. By participating in a plantation, people are contributing their bit to climate change initiatives and saving the environment.”
Efforts To Fulfill Paris Agreement
India has made a commitment under the Paris Agreement that it will try to increase its forest cover by 5 million hectares before 2030 to contribute to minimizing and combatting climate change. India has made three commitments under this agreement and is all set to achieve the two before the onset of 2030.
According to the agreement India will try to reduce greenhouse gas emission intensity of its GDP by 33 to 35% below 2005 by 2030. Also, 40% of the power capacity of India will be based on non-fossil fuel sources.
India will also create a surplus carbon sink with a capacity of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of Co2 or equivalent by arranging additional forest and tree cover by 2030.
India is already on its way to achieving its first two targets as per the Paris Agreement. But it is yet too far when it comes to fulfilling the required ton of carbon sink capacity by planting more trees.
The efforts by the Uttar Pradesh government in 2016 and by the volunteers in Madhya Pradesh are all directed towards helping India achieve its forest cover as per the Paris Agreement.
India Is Committed To Paris Accord
Due to deforestation activities on a large scale, there has been a steady decline in the number of trees across the world. As the planet stands to lose the very basis of its existence with depleting forest cover, it is the high time everyone contributes in whichever way possible to increase the greenery on this planet.
India is the third largest carbon emissions generator in the world. Despite the US withdrawing from the Paris Agreement, last month Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaffirmed India’s stand to support the Paris Climate Accord.
During a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron, Modi said, “The protection of the environment and the mother planet is an article of faith.”
