Bengaluru: More than a month after the Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA) planted over 15 lakh saplings across three major layouts in an attempt to set a Guinness World Record, attention has shifted from the scale of the plantation drive to the survival of the young trees.

The ambitious initiative, held on June 27 to mark Kempegowda Jayanti, was hailed as one of the city’s largest mass plantation campaigns. Thousands of volunteers, residents, government officials and environmental enthusiasts participated in the drive aimed at expanding Bengaluru’s green cover.

Focus shifts to sapling survival

With the monsoon progressing, the emphasis has now moved from the number of saplings planted to how many have successfully taken root.

A revisit to the plantation sites by Deccan Herald found varying conditions across the three layouts, highlighting the importance of regular maintenance, watering and protection to ensure long-term survival.

Environmental experts have often pointed out that the success of plantation drives should be measured not by the number of saplings planted but by their survival rate over the following months and years.

Maintenance key to long-term success

Tree plantation campaigns require continuous monitoring, including watering during dry spells, replacing damaged saplings, protecting them from grazing animals and ensuring adequate soil care.

Without sustained maintenance, large-scale plantation drives risk recording low survival rates despite impressive planting figures.

The BDA’s initiative was designed not only to establish a world record but also to strengthen Bengaluru’s urban greenery amid rapid urbanisation and declining green cover.

Greener Bengaluru remains the goal

The plantation drive forms part of the state’s broader efforts to improve Bengaluru’s environment by increasing tree cover, reducing urban heat and enhancing biodiversity.

Authorities are expected to continue monitoring the plantation sites in the coming months to assess survival rates and undertake replacement planting wherever necessary.

The long-term success of the campaign will ultimately depend on how many of the 15 lakh saplings mature into healthy trees capable of contributing to Bengaluru’s ecological future. #Bengaluru #BDA #TreePlantation #Environment #GreenCover #NewsKarnataka