11 August 2009: The UN Environment Programme (UNEP), as part of its Billion Tree Campaign, has announced that India will attempt to set a new Guinness World Record by planting 600,000 trees in 24 hours on 12 August 2009.

The potential record-breaking event, organized by the Indian Administrative Service, is being undertaken in the city of Dungarpur, in Southern India. Volunteers will plant Mango, Neem, Teak and Jatropha trees – all indigenous species that will eventually provide food, medicinal value and timber to the community. Once planted, the trees will be “adopted” by local villagers to ensure that they are watered and maintained. The after-care will be supervised by the Indian Forestry Service and the trees will also be registered under UNEP’s Billion Tree Campaign.
In July 2009, volunteers from Pakistan set a record by planting 541,176 trees in 24 hours without using mechanical equipment in the wetlands of the Indus River. [UNEP Press Release]