Uttar Pradesh is emerging as a strong advocate for protecting nature’s delicate balance, reinforcing the idea that coexistence is the foundation of life.
The Yogi Adityanath government has intensified efforts to conserve and promote biodiversity across the state.
Backed by a deep-rooted reverence for water, forests and land, the state’s policies are translating into visible results on the ground.
UP now boasts the highest number of dolphins in India, a direct outcome of focused conservation measures.
The tiger population is also witnessing a steady rise. The number of tigers in UP increased from 173 in 2018 to 205 in 2022.
Another vital initiative targets the protection of turtles, among the oldest living species on Earth and significant from both ecological and religious standpoints.
The Yogi government has cracked down on illegal turtle poaching and their commercial exploitation.
Alongside enforcement, awareness is being raised about the critical role turtles play in maintaining aquatic ecosystems.
As part of the Turtle Conservation Scheme, natural habitats are being preserved, while dedicated breeding centers have been established in Sarnath and Kukrail.
Given that the Ganga is a natural home to many turtle species, special focus is being placed on districts along its banks, including Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Hapur, Bijnor, Amroha and Bulandshahr.
Since 2017–18, the UP government has planted over 2 billion saplings, and this year, it aims to plant another 350 million.
Special plantations along the Ganga are already being carried out under the ‘Ganga Van’ initiative.
This year, more than 140 million saplings will be planted along the Ganga, Yamuna, Chambal, Betwa, Ken, Gomti, Chhoti Gandak, Hindon, Rapti, Ramganga and Sone rivers.
Owing to these efforts, the green area in the state has increased.
According to the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023, the UP forest area has grown by almost 560 square kilometers.
The government aims to increase the state’s green cover to 20% by 2030.
The government is also protecting wetlands, which are important for biodiversity. Natural, poison-free farming is helping as well.
A special step by the Yogi government is the Jatayu Conservation Centre in Gorakhpur, created to save vultures, which are natural cleaners of the environment but are becoming endangered.
Since UP possesses nine farming climatic zones, it has a wide range of plants and animals.
To protect them, UP has one national park and more than two dozen wildlife sanctuaries.
A State Biodiversity Board has also been set up for this purpose. Notably, UP is home to 56 types of mammals, 552 species of birds, 47 reptiles, 19 amphibians, and 79 types of fish.
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), in India, around 97 mammals, 94 bird species, and 482 plant species are at risk of extinction.
Globally, a million species are under threat. Between 1970 and 2018, the population of wild animals fell by 69%.
It is estimated that 5% to 10% of insect species, around 250,000 to 500,000 types, have disappeared in the last 150 years.
It matters because about 75% of crops and 85% of wild plants depend on birds and insects for pollination.