The Ministry of Forests and Environment has announced the launch of a 20-year nationwide tree plantation drive, the “Sagarmatha Tree Plantation Mega Campaign”, in response to the call of the recently held Sagarmatha Dialogue.
According to the ministry, the campaign was endorsed by a ministerial-level decision on Monday, following the Sagarmatha Dialogue held in Kathmandu from May 15 to 17, 2025 (Jestha 2–4, 2082 BS). Beginning in 2025 and continuing until 2045, the campaign will run every year from Asar 14 to Shrawan 15 (late June to late July). During this period, tree saplings will be planted on suitable land across Nepal and actively cared for in the following years.
The Sagarmatha Dialogue raised concerns over the rapidly melting snow in the Himalayas and its adverse effects on downstream regions. It emphasised urgent action to protect the Himalayas. In this context, Minister for Forests and Environment, Ain Bahadur Shahi Thakuri, stated that the campaign is a significant step toward safeguarding the Himalayan ecosystem—starting right here in Nepal.
The campaign will officially launch on Asar 14, celebrated as National Tree Plantation Day. Indigenous and fruit-bearing trees, especially those rooted in local traditions, will be prioritised for plantation across the country.
Nepal has pledged to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2045, and this long-term campaign is expected to play a crucial role in meeting that goal. To ensure its effectiveness, the ministry has called for active participation from all sectors.
As per the decision, the ministry has urged cooperation from federal ministries and agencies, provincial governments (including offices of the chief ministers and relevant environmental departments), all local governments, community, collaborative, and private forest associations, the private sector, civil society, and media representatives.
Since the campaign emerged from the Sagarmatha Dialogue, it has been named the Sagarmatha Tree Plantation Mega Campaign. The ministry invites all citizens to take part—to plant trees in memory of ancestors, for the safety of future generations, and to protect our pride, the Himalayas.
