India attempts to set world tree planting record

Thursday, August 13 2009 17:55:32 by Editor

Eco friendly residents of Dungarpur in southern India were attempting to set a Guinness World Record yesterday by planting 600,000 trees in a single day.

The trees will be adopted by local people in an effort to ensure that they are kept in good health and will be registered with the Indian Forestry Service.

Dr Arushi Malik, an Indian Administrative Service employee who is coordinating the event, noted that it is not about setting a record but instead it is "about creating livelihoods and providing the people of Dungarpur with food security".

He said: "The land in Dungarpur had become barren as a result of deforestation, and this led to water shortages and food scarcity. By planting trees, we will ensure this does not happen again. It will also help the fight against climate change."

The previous 24 hour record for planting trees was set by a group in Pakistan in 2008 who set 541,176 trees in the ground without machinery in wetlands around the Indus River.