Overview
SayTrees Environmental Trust marked its tenth anniversary of ecological restoration by collaborating with the Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA) for a city‑wide plantation drive that secured the Guinness World Record for the highest number of saplings planted by volunteers.
Record‑setting Plantation Drive
On Kempegowda Jayanti, 15 lakh native saplings were planted across Bengaluru at three project sites – Dr. Shivaram Karanth (DSK) Layout, Banashankari 6th Stage, and Nada Prabhu Kempegowda Layout (NPKL). The effort mobilised more than 50,000 volunteers, including personnel from the Indian Army Para Centre and the Indian Air Force Training Command, making it one of the largest urban afforestation initiatives in India.
SayTrees’ Direct Contribution
SayTrees itself planted 3.36 lakh saplings and provided technical expertise on the Miyawaki method to partner organisations. Over the past ten years, the trust has created hundreds of urban forests across cities such as Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Hosur, Pune, Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Bhuvneshwar, Kolkata, and Bhopal. In Bengaluru alone, SayTrees has restored more than 50 sites, developing Miyawaki forests and planting over 7 lakh trees, thereby significantly enhancing the city’s green cover and biodiversity.
Long‑term Maintenance Commitment
The trust committed to maintain the newly planted saplings for the next three years, ensuring they develop into self‑sustaining ecosystems that improve air quality, soil health, groundwater recharge, and carbon sequestration, and mitigate the urban heat‑island effect.
Statements from Leadership
Deokant Payasi, Founder & CEO of SayTrees Environmental Trust, said the achievement demonstrates the power of collective action and highlighted the role of citizens, volunteers, institutions, and government bodies in creating a greener future for Bengaluru. Kapil Sharma, Founder & Trustee, emphasized that the Guinness World Record reflects the collective commitment of thousands of participants and reiterated SayTrees’ pledge to nurture the plantations for future generations.
Broader Impact
The initiative underscores Bengaluru’s position as a leader in urban environmental stewardship and community‑driven sustainability. It aims to leave a lasting ecological legacy by fostering biodiversity, enhancing groundwater recharge, and creating healthier urban habitats.