Bhubaneswar, March 21: Odisha celebrated World Forest Day 2026 with a state-level event at Lok Seva Bhavan in Bhubaneswar, led by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi. He highlighted the state's progress in forest conservation, noting a 558 sq. km increase in forest cover, bringing the total to 58,597 sq. km (37.63% of Odisha's area).

Majhi emphasized the importance of forests for life and livelihoods and praised Odisha's success in large-scale plantation efforts, such as the Prime Minister’s "Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam," which saw 1.49 crore saplings planted in a day and over 8 crore in a year.

The CM called for balanced development, where industrial growth aligns with environmental protection, and urged stronger actions against forest fires and human-wildlife conflicts. He acknowledged the efforts of forest officials in protecting Odisha’s forests.

Forest Minister Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia reaffirmed the commitment to improving tribal livelihoods, while Chief Secretary Anu Garg discussed how forests contribute to Odisha’s economy, tourism, and green growth. The event ended with exhibitions and awards for top-performing forest divisions.