Gujarat plans to extend its ‘Van Kavach’ afforestation model to cover 1,100 hectares by 2026-27. Over half of the new plantations will be concentrated in the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency as part of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s Green Lok Sabha initiative. The state Forest Department disclosed that the program includes establishing Gujarat’s largest “Maha Van Kavach” spread over 100 hectares in Godhavi village near Ahmedabad.
Under the broader Green Lok Sabha campaign, around 1.25 crore saplings are set to be planted across the Gandhinagar parliamentary constituency. Approximately 60 lakh of these saplings will be planted by the Forest Department in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar districts using the Van Kavach model. The state government highlighted that this initiative aligns with the nationwide “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” tree plantation campaign led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Forest Department introduced the Van Kavach model as a locally adapted alternative to the Japanese Miyawaki afforestation technique. This model, designed specifically for Gujarat’s ecological conditions, combines scientific soil improvement with biodiversity conservation to transform degraded land into self-sustaining native ecosystems. Principal Secretary of the Forest and Environment Department, Vinod Rao, mentioned that under Amit Shah’s Gandhinagar Green Lok Sabha Project, 82 ‘Van Kavach’ sites covering 600 hectares will be developed across Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar districts.
Forest officials explained that the Van Kavach model differs from the Miyawaki technique in terms of planting density and site preparation. While the Miyawaki method typically plants three to five saplings per square meter, Van Kavach utilizes approximately one tree per square meter, maintaining greater spacing between large native species to support healthier long-term growth. This approach reflects the growth characteristics of India’s indigenous trees, promoting the gradual formation of naturally layered forests.
The Forest Department emphasized that the Van Kavach initiative prioritizes indigenous tree species suitable for Gujarat’s climate, aiming to restore degraded land, enhance wildlife habitats, increase carbon sequestration, and strengthen climate resilience over the long term.
