Chouhan unveils nationwide 'Vriksh Mitra' environmental campaign

Union Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday launched the nationwide 'Vriksh Mitra Abhiyan', calling for a mass movement to protect the environment by encouraging every citizen to plant at least one tree each year and motivate five others to do the same.
According to agency reports, addressing nearly 17,000 'Vriksh Mitra' volunteers from across the country during the Environment Protection Resolve Programme and Vriksh Mitra Samvad at the Pusa Complex in New Delhi, Chouhan unveiled a roadmap to promote tree plantation, environmental awareness and sustainable living through active public participation.The programme was attended by Padma Bhushan awardee and environmentalist Anil Joshi, noted physician and social worker Dr. Anoop Hazela, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Director General Dr. M.L. Jat and hundreds of environmental volunteers, while thousands joined virtually.

VIDEO | Delhi: At Vriksh Mitra programme, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan says, "I have been planting a tree every single day for nearly five and a half years now. Once, I made an appeal on social media asking people who wanted to join hands to save the environment and… pic.twitter.com/ZjMJwBOLE3

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 12, 2026

Describing climate change as one of the biggest challenges facing humanity, Chouhan said environmental protection should become a part of everyday life rather than remain limited to occasional campaigns. He urged families to plant trees on birthdays, wedding anniversaries, the birth of a child and in memory of loved ones, turning such occasions into "Tree Festivals."To strengthen the initiative, the Union Minister proposed setting up a 'Vriksh Mitra Parivar' with organisational units at the national, state, district, block and village levels to coordinate plantation drives and ensure the long-term care of saplings. He also suggested identifying dedicated plantation sites in panchayats and urban local bodies, where government programmes and public events could begin with tree plantation.
Announcing the next major phase of the campaign, Chouhan said a nationwide plantation drive would be organised on Hariyali Amavasya on August 12, with volunteers planting trees simultaneously across the country. He expressed hope that the occasion would evolve into a national "Tree Festival" dedicated to environmental conservation.The Minister emphasised that planting trees alone would not be sufficient unless they were protected and nurtured. He called for community participation in maintaining green spaces and ensuring the survival of planted saplings.
Highlighting the link between environmental conservation and agriculture, Chouhan said protecting water resources, improving soil health and promoting balanced farming practices were essential for the future of Indian agriculture. He cautioned that excessive exploitation of natural resources and indiscriminate use of chemicals pose serious risks to agricultural productivity and farmers' livelihoods.The Minister also urged people to adopt Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment), encouraging citizens to conserve water and energy, reduce plastic consumption, segregate waste and embrace environmentally responsible habits. He said simple lifestyle changes, including avoiding single-use plastics and preventing water wastage, could collectively make a significant contribution to environmental protection.

#WATCH | Delhi: Union Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan participates in Vriksh Mitra program at National Agricultural Science Complex (NASC) pic.twitter.com/Q6SEHL2MWN

— ANI (@ANI) July 12, 2026

Environmentalist Anil Joshi praised Chouhan's long-standing commitment to environmental conservation and described the initiative as a sustained movement rather than a symbolic tree plantation campaign. He said researchers from the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) are conducting scientific studies using remote sensing and other technologies to assess the environmental impact of Chouhan's plantation initiatives.Dr. Anoop Hazela stressed the need for behavioural change to address climate change and advocated the concept of "Plant One Tree, Adopt One Tree," encouraging people without access to land to take responsibility for nurturing existing trees. He also underscored the importance of energy conservation, water recycling and reducing plastic use to promote sustainable development.
Expressing confidence in the success of the initiative, Chouhan said the 'Vriksh Mitra Abhiyan' would become a people's movement with sustained public participation and play a significant role in building a greener, cleaner and more sustainable India.