Gandhinagar Plantation Sets Guinness World Record
Gandhinagar Constituency Sets Guinness World Record with 3.61 Lakh Saplings Planted in One Hour Using Miyawaki Method at Gandhinagar
A large tree plantation campaign across Gujarat’s Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency has entered the Guinness World Records after more than 3.61 lakh saplings were planted within a single hour using the Miyawaki method. Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah, who represents the constituency in Parliament, congratulated the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, more than 25,000 volunteers and residents for achieving the milestone. The announcement was made on 12 July 2026.
According to official figures, the record was created during a plantation drive that formed part of the wider public campaign carried out across the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency. Organisers said the effort relied on the Miyawaki technique, a method of creating dense native forests in small urban spaces. Developed by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki, the approach uses closely planted indigenous species that grow into compact forests more quickly than conventional plantations while helping improve biodiversity and urban green cover.
In a statement, Amit Shah said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, environmental conservation has become a people’s movement. Referring to the national ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign, he said it had connected millions of people to protect nature and that the Gandhinagar constituency had added a significant achievement to the campaign.
He said, “Creating a Guinness World Record by planting over 3.61 lakh saplings in just one hour through the Miyawaki technique is an outstanding example of public participation, meticulous planning, and society’s commitment to environmental conservation.”
The campaign extended well beyond the one-hour record attempt. Official data show that residents planted more than 1.26 crore saplings across the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency. Of these, 11,593,513 saplings were planted at 404 public locations, while citizens planted more than 11 lakh saplings within private premises. The figures indicate that public participation formed a major part of the programme, with local communities, civic bodies, voluntary organisations and government departments working together throughout the campaign.
The largest share of public plantation took place in the Sanand Assembly constituency, where 53,64,504 saplings were planted at 186 locations. Other areas also recorded substantial numbers. Gandhinagar North accounted for 18,09,850 saplings across 97 sites, while Kalol reported 16,64,675 saplings at 77 locations. Plantation drives in Vejalpur covered 10 locations, resulting in 17,54,000 saplings. Ghatlodia recorded 8,32,370 saplings across 18 locations, while Sabarmati added 82,314 saplings at six locations. Together, these figures formed the basis of one of the country’s largest constituency-level plantation programmes.
The new achievement follows several recent large-scale plantation campaigns in India. In 2024, Indore received global attention after planting 11 lakh saplings in a single day under the same ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign. Earlier this year, Varanasi Municipal Corporation created a Guinness World Record by planting 251,446 saplings in one hour during the development of a large Miyawaki forest. The latest Gandhinagar effort has now surpassed that benchmark by recording more than 3.61 lakh saplings within the same time period.
The ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2024 to encourage people to plant a tree in honour of their mothers while increasing India’s green cover. Since its launch, the campaign has been adopted by state governments, municipal bodies, educational institutions, security forces and community organisations across the country. Environmental experts say such public campaigns can contribute to urban cooling, carbon absorption and improved air quality, although the long-term benefits depend largely on the survival and maintenance of the planted trees rather than the number planted on a single day.
Amit Shah also linked the plantation programme with broader environmental efforts taking place in the constituency. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “Progress with Nature” and sustainable development is being reflected through the creation of oxygen parks, restoration of ponds, extensive tree plantation and other environmental projects across Gandhinagar.
At the same time, he stressed that planting saplings is only the first step. He said their protection and regular care are equally important if they are to grow into healthy trees. He urged citizens to participate in the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign by planting trees and taking responsibility for nurturing them.
Large-scale plantation drives have become increasingly common as governments seek practical ways to address rising temperatures, pollution and climate-related challenges in urban areas. Environmental specialists note that dense native forests created through the Miyawaki method can provide habitat for birds and insects, improve groundwater retention and reduce the urban heat island effect when properly maintained. However, they also point out that long-term monitoring, watering and protection are essential to achieve high survival rates.
With more than 1.26 crore saplings planted across the constituency and a new Guinness World Record for planting over 3.61 lakh saplings in one hour, the Gandhinagar campaign now stands among India’s largest coordinated public plantation efforts. Whether the programme delivers lasting environmental benefits will depend on how successfully the newly planted saplings are protected and allowed to mature in the years ahead.
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