Vijayapura’s Green Turn: How A Barren District In Karnataka Grew 15 Million Trees

On a hot summer day in 2016, inside a government office in Vijayapura, Karnataka’s then water resources minister, MB Patil, posed what seemed like a routine question to forest officials: what was the forest cover of the district? The answer stunned him. Just 0.17 per cent. Against the 33 per cent recommended by the National Forest Policy, Vijayapura had almost no trees at all.“I thought they made a mistake,” Patil later recalled. But the officials confirmed their numbers. That moment, he decided the district could not afford to remain barren. And the Koti Vruksha Abhiyan was born. Its aim was audacious: to plant one crore trees in five years.Nine years on, Vijayapura is unrecognisable. Where thorny scrub once dominated, more than 15 million trees now stand. Summers are cooler, rainfall is up, and wildlife has returned. What began as a desperate push against drought has grown into a movement that has reshaped culture, climate, and identity.A District TransformedVijayapura lies on the Deccan plateau, long known for its parched soils, high summer temperatures that often cross 40 degrees Celsius, and erratic rainfall. During British rule, it was classified as a drought-prone region. Even as recently as the early 2000s, the district was described as a near-desert.The campaign that took root in 2016 was more than an official order. “A team of ten was formed to research tree plantations and environmental initiatives both in India and abroad. This led to the concept of planting one crore trees over five years. The team then collaborated with the three forest departments in Vijayapura—Territorial Forest, Social Forest, and KBJNL (Krisha Bhagya Jala Nigam Limited) —to support the initiative. Notably, there was no single forest division in Vijayapura at the time,” says Prof. Muragesh Pattanshetti, coordinator of the Vruksha Abhiyan Pratisthan, to Outlook Traveller. They returned with the concept of Koti Vruksha Abhiyan, supported by the district administration, three forest divisions, and more than 50 NGOs and community groups.The project officially started on June 5, 2016, World Environment Day, with around 11 lakh saplings initially. From 2017 onwards, the three forest departments committed to supplying 25 lakh saplings annually. Saplings were raised in various nursery bag sizes—6x9, 8x12, 10x16, 14x20, and 25x25—indicating their height and health. Saplings were raised in 14 nurseries, some equipped with hi-tech systems. Prices were kept low—three, five, or ten rupees—to ensure everyone could take part. Over 184 species were nurtured, including forest trees like ficus and neem, fruit-bearers such as mango and jackfruit, and timber varieties like sandalwood and mahogany. “Farmers, once reluctant to grow trees for fear they would shade crops, were educated in agroforestry and began planting alongside sugarcane and cotton,” adds Pattanshetti. Planting spread everywhere—schools, universities, mutts, graveyards, roadside avenues, and block plantations. Some were on an impressive scale. In 2017, 60,000 saplings were drip-irrigated across 540 acres at Almatti. At Mamadapur Reserve, 1.27 lakh saplings now grow across 628 hectares.But perhaps the most striking aspect of the Abhiyan was how it wove trees into daily life. Citizens were urged to plant on birthdays, gift saplings at weddings, and tie rakhis to trees during Raksha Bandhan. A quirky campaign called April Cool turned April 1 into a tree-planting day. Saplings were distributed at festivals of every faith. Even the custom of giving bouquets at events was replaced with gifting trees.Large gatherings brought the message to thousands. The Vrukshathon – Gol Gumbaz Half Marathon in 2017 attracted 10,000 runners, with actor Yash as brand ambassador. Local banks contributed lakhs of rupees, NGOs like Vruksha Abhiyan Pratisthan coordinated drives, and schoolchildren carried the message home.Forests, Rain, And The Return Of WildlifeThe results of this collective effort are visible across the district. Vijayapura’s green cover has increased by 2.4 per cent, according to the Forest Survey of India. Its Air Quality Index is now as low as 37, ranking the district third in India for clean air. Summers are two to three degrees cooler, and rainfall has risen from 500–550 mm to 600–650 mm, with rainy days increasing from 20–30 to 30–40.Wildlife, absent for decades, is back. “Leopards, blackbucks, chinkaras, spotted deer, porcupines, and foxes are once again being sighted. More than 280 bird species have been recorded, from parakeets and peafowl to migratory visitors like flamingos, bar-headed geese, Siberian cranes, and pintail ducks at Almatti’s backwaters,” notes Pattanshetti. Pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and dragonflies have returned in abundance, boosting agriculture.Water bodies, too, have revived. Canals and tanks were restored, and rocky wastelands such as Bhootnal were planted into green stretches that now attract migratory birds and small mammals. Solar-powered drip irrigation ensures sapling survival through the scorching summers.“Protection measures followed planting. Anti-poaching teams were set up after incidents of hunting, and communities were encouraged to report illegal activity. Schoolchildren were taught not just to plant trees but to protect them, while forest guards received insurance cover from campaign funds,” informs Prof. Pattanshetti.A Living LegacyFrom a district with less than one per cent forest cover, Vijayapura now counts 15 million trees. The next target is five crore. New nurseries are being developed, and officials from neighbouring Maharashtra have already visited to study the model. MB Patil, who spearheaded the Koti Vruksha Abhiyan during his tenure as water resources minister in the Siddaramaiah government, describes the initiative as only the beginning. “Two per cent and 1.5 crore trees is just the start. Our next target is five crore trees, and to raise Vijayapura’s green cover to match the state and national average of 15 per cent,” he tells Outlook Traveller. Patil now serves as Karnataka’s minister for large and medium industries.The campaign has also left behind powerful personal stories. ND Patil of Domanal, a retired government officer, has planted thousands of trees on a barren hill using his pension savings, creating a personal forest that shelters birds and butterflies. Known locally as the “Green Man of Domanal”, his dedication captures the spirit of the larger movement.The afforestation drive has become part of everyday culture. In weddings, birthdays, and religious celebrations, saplings are exchanged as symbols of continuity. Marathons and cultural events are organised around plantation drives. For schoolchildren who grew up after 2016, planting trees is no longer unusual—it is expected.“Vijayapura’s story shows that the fight against climate change is not lost,” says Prof. Pattanshetti. “With determination and participation, even the driest lands can be revived.”Once dismissed as a barren landscape, Vijayapura has become a case study in ecological recovery. The new forests tell a plain story: a district written off as dry and depleted has altered its course, creating an environment where rainfall, wildlife, and people can once again coexist.FAQs1. How many trees have been planted in Vijayapura under the Koti Vruksha Abhiyan?Over 15 million trees have been planted since 2016, transforming Vijayapura from a near-barren district into a thriving green landscape.2. What impact has afforestation had on Vijayapura’s climate?The district has seen cooler summers, an increase in rainfall, and a reduction in its Air Quality Index, making it one of India’s cleanest air zones.3. Which species of wildlife have returned to Vijayapura after the afforestation drive?Leopards, blackbucks, chinkaras, spotted deer, porcupines, foxes, and over 280 bird species, including migratory flamingos and Siberian cranes, have returned.4. How did the local community participate in Vijayapura’s tree plantation campaign?Residents planted saplings on birthdays, weddings, and festivals, while schools, NGOs, and farmers joined drives, making it a community-led green movement.5. What is the future plan for afforestation in Vijayapura?The district now aims to plant five crore trees, expand nurseries, and continue sustainable agroforestry practices to strengthen its ecological recovery.Wild Escapes: All About Bannerghatta National Park In Karnataka