LUCKNOW, India (AP) — Hundreds of thousands of people in India’s most populous state jostled for space today as they attempted to plant 50 million trees over 24 hours in hopes of shattering the world record.
Officials in Uttar Pradesh distributed millions of saplings to be planted across the state to help India’s efforts to increase its forest cover, and to get into Guinness World Records for the most trees planted in a day. The current record is 847,275, set in Pakistan in 2013.
More than 800,000 people, including students, lawmakers, government officials, housewives and volunteers from nonprofit organizations, headed out today to plant the saplings at designated spots along country roads and highways, rail tracks and forest lands.
Uttar Pradesh’s top elected official, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, said that planting 50 million trees would spread awareness and enthusiasm about afforestation and environmental conservation.
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