Government of Maharashtra is going to launch one of the biggest greening initiatives in India by planting 300 crore trees in State in the next five years (2026-31). To give a boost to the programme, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis chaired a meeting to establish Green Maharashtra Authority recently. Fadnavis in the meeting directed that the project should be carried out in mission mode to raise forest cover of Maharashtra to 33 per cent. The programme will be implemented on priority in regions with low forest cover, said Fadnavis in the meeting.

 

“The drive will expand green cover while advancing environmental conservation, climate action, and rural employment, with support from experts, voluntary organisations, and startups to ensure effective implementation,” the CM said. Under the Green Maharashtra initiative, plantation efforts should commence in the first year itself, targeting the planting of approximately 20 crore saplings, subject to the availability of seedlings. Maintenance for a period of three to five years has been ensured through convergence with schemes of Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin), Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA), the Agriculture Department, and local self-government bodies.

 

Under this mission, tree species suitable to the local ecosystem will be planted according to the various agro-climatic zones of the state, while in grassland areas and wetlands, tree plantation will not be done; instead, their restoration will be carried out. “The implementation of this mission will be done through a digital and satellite-based real-time monitoring system, and the plantation and tree survival rate will be transparently recorded,” he said and also directed that regular checks should be conducted on the survival rate of trees, forest formation, and the growth of saplings.