++Boasts 90% Plant Survival Rate; Leads India’s Green Revolution with Sustainable Afforestation on World Environment Day
Hyderabad, Divya rasthra: On the occasion of World Environment Day , Forests by Heartfulness (FBH) , a flagship initiative of Heartfulness Institute, has reaffirmed its commitment to large-scale, sustainable afforestation with an ambitious goal: raising 30 million trees by 2030. Backed by scientific rigor, community engagement, and spiritual sensitivity, the initiative is making measurable impact across India’s degraded landscapes.
As part of this project, 3.5 lakh trees will be planted to develop 650 hectares of forest land over the course of one year, each tree being planted to revere one’s mother, who is the first Guru. The first tree to be planted by Hon’ble Dy CM will be in the name of respected Baa, Smt Shantaben, mother of Rev Daaji.
India has lost 2.19 million hectares of tree cover since 2000 – a concerning 5.6% decline – triggering rising concerns around climate change, habitat loss, and soil degradation. In response, FBH has pioneered a regenerative forest model that goes beyond conventional plantation drives. This model not only restores biodiversity and degraded soil but also empowers rural communities and reconnects people to nature through meditation and spiritual ecology.
Since its inception, Forests by Heartfulness has planted over 3 million trees across 10,000 acres of degraded lands in 12 states, conserving more than 80 endangered species with an impressive 90% survival rate. It operates 20 native nurseries housing 6 million saplings across 330 endemic species, making it one of India’s most diverse and robust plantation efforts.
“Daaji has instilled in us the vision to treat trees as sentient beings. With his inspiration and guidance, we are intertwining ancient wisdom and modern science to plant 30 million trees by 2030. Even children are learning to nurture and protect forests. Together, we’re building green futures one forest at a time,” said Dr. V. Ramakantha, Retired IFS and Chairman of Forests by Heartfulness .
Key Highlights of Forests by Heartfulness :
• 1200+ mature trees relocated with 80% success rate
• 35 lakes restored or created, enabling 77 crore litres of water capacity
• 22 afforestation projects in 12 states on over 75,000 acres of degraded lands
• Use of biochar, check dams, phytosociological surveys, and activated compost to revive ecosystems
• Training programs in agroforestry, watershed management, and native nursery techniques for local communities
Unlike other popular methods, FBH’s approach follows a natural forest succession that avoids topsoil replacement and enriches it using organic compost, neem cake, and microbial activators. very plantation site is selected through rigorous ecological surveys assessing soil composition, native vegetation, and hydrology to ensure long-term resilience and compatibility. This method fosters complex, multi-strata forest ecosystems involving trees, shrubs, herbs, creepers, and grasses, thereby supporting higher biodiversity and faunal integration.
Across India, Forests by Heartfulness is already bringing degraded land back to life. In Madhya Pradesh, 2,000 acres of scrub forest in Shivgarh, Ratlam are being revived into native forests. In Ratlam, a 105-acre city forest acts as an oxygen bank for local population. A similar model is being scaled at many places in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Delhi NCR alongside the creation of water bodies, soil conservation structures, and sustainable livelihood through native fodder crops.
