Recent rainfall boosts state plantation drive in Uttar Pradesh
Source:hindustantimes ↗
Why It Matters
Relevant for UPPSC aspirants tracking state government environmental initiatives, forest cover expansion targets, and agro-climatic conditions affecting plantation drives in Uttar Pradesh.
Summary
Recent widespread rainfall across Uttar Pradesh has provided favourable soil moisture conditions, giving a major boost to the state's ongoing mega plantation drive and improving the survival prospects of newly planted saplings.
Key Points
- Recent rainfall across Uttar Pradesh has created optimal, moisture-rich soil conditions favourable for the state's mega plantation drive.
- Sufficient soil moisture significantly enhances the survival rate of saplings planted during afforestation and green cover expansion campaigns.
- State authorities and forest departments leverage monsoon and pre-monsoon precipitation spells to achieve ambitious green canopy expansion targets.
Important Terms
State Plantation Drive
A large-scale annual afforestation initiative launched by the Uttar Pradesh government to increase green cover, combat climate change, and plant millions of saplings across the state with inter-departmental cooperation.
UPSC context
Important for UPPSC (GS Paper V & Environment/Ecology) testing state policies, green cover expansion, and environmental governance.
Uttar Pradesh Forest Department
The nodal government body responsible for planning, executing, and monitoring afforestation drives, wildlife conservation, and forest resource management across Uttar Pradesh.
UPSC context
Important for UPPSC (GS Paper V & Environment) regarding institutional frameworks for biodiversity conservation and state administrative machinery.
Prelims Trap
Uttar Pradesh has recorded the highest absolute forest cover percentage in India.
Aspirants often confuse UP's absolute forest and tree cover percentage with states having high geographical forest percentages like Mizoram or Arunachal Pradesh. UP's focus is on incremental growth and overall 15% target by 2030.
Static Concepts Connected
What are the key highlights of the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) regarding Uttar Pradesh's forest cover?
- Significant Growth: UP recorded an increase of 559.19 sq km in forest and tree cover, registering the second-highest growth among Indian states.
- Green Target: The state has set a strategic target to systematically increase its overall green cover to 15% by 2030.
- Publishing Body: ISFR is published biennially by the Forest Survey of India (FSI) under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
Cross-Topic Patterns
UP Green Cover & National NDC Targets
UP's 15% green cover target by 2030 intersects directly with national commitments under India's NDC (Carbon Sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent).
Afforestation & Rural Employment Convergence
Mega plantation drives rely heavily on decentralized nurseries and MGNREGS convergence, linking state environment management with rural development administration.
UP Forest Cover growth (ISFR data) + 15% green cover target by 2030 will likely appear in a multi-statement match question.
Linked PYQs · 2
Linked PYQs · 2
- 2025UPPSC_PRELIMSGS1
As per the India State of Forest Report 2023, which of the following districts in Uttar Pradesh had forest over more than 20% of their total area? 1. Bahraich 2. Chandaili 3. Shravasti Select the correct answer from the code given below:
- 2014UPPSC_PRELIMSGS1
The number of agro-climate zones in Uttar Pradesh is
