Bhubaneswar, July 8 (UDN): Odisha has emerged as one of the country’s leading states in expanding its green cover, recording an increase of 558 square kilometres of forest and tree cover over the last two years, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced on Tuesday.
Addressing the state-level Van Mahotsav celebrations at Kapileswar in Bhubaneswar, the Chief Minister said Odisha is now the third best-performing state in India in terms of increasing forest and tree cover. He emphasised that environmental conservation and economic development must go hand in hand and called for greater public participation in afforestation to combat climate change and rising temperatures.
Highlighting the state’s forest conservation initiatives, Majhi said the Ama Jungle Yojana has helped restore nearly 19,975 hectares of degraded forest land while generating sustainable livelihood opportunities for over 43 lakh beneficiaries through programmes worth approximately ₹1,488 crore.
The Chief Minister also outlined progress under the Sabuja Mahanadi Mission, under which green belts are being developed along seven major rivers, including the Mahanadi, Brahmani, Baitarani and Rushikulya, to improve ecological resilience and protect river ecosystems. The state planted over 5.65 lakh saplings during 2025–26 and plans to plant nearly nine lakh more during the current financial year.
As part of its broader afforestation strategy, Odisha will undertake plantation activities across 20,562 hectares under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) programme during 2026–27.
The Chief Minister said the government is also implementing large-scale coastal ecosystem restoration projects, including mangrove plantations under the MISHTI (Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes) scheme and saline forest restoration through the Enhancing Climate Resilience of India’s Coastal Communities (ECRICC) project.
To reduce fatalities caused by lightning, the state planted around 17.9 lakh palm saplings during the previous financial year, while urban forestry initiatives aim to add nearly 6.95 lakh saplings this year.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign, Majhi said Odisha had planted 14.9 million saplings in a single day last year and uploaded records of over 81 million plantations on the Meri LiFE portal. The Centre has assigned the state a target of planting 37.6 million saplings during the current year.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister honoured two community forest protection organisations—Jereng Budhipahad Forest Protection Committee of Angul district and Gudgudia Environmental Development Committee of Mayurbhanj—with cash awards of ₹2 lakh each in recognition of their outstanding contribution to forest conservation.
The state government reaffirmed its commitment to expanding Odisha’s green cover through scientific forest management, community participation and sustainable environmental initiatives