At 22, Adesh Soni is working towards a goal of planting 10 million trees across India through his environmental initiative, Touchforearth. Recent reporting by The Better India states that Soni’s movement has planted more than 14 lakh native trees across Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, while more than two lakh children have received saplings through the initiative.
One of his recent large-scale plantation efforts took place in Bhiwani, Haryana, where Touchforearth collaborated with 1win Charity to plant 100,000 trees. More than 100 volunteers spent 10 days clearing land, preparing the soil, transporting saplings and carrying out the plantation. For Soni, the effort forms part of a much larger mission to encourage people to participate in environmental action through tree planting.
A 10-Million-Tree Goal
Soni‘s environmental work is centred around an ambitious long-term target: planting 10 million trees across India. Through Touchforearth, he has worked on plantation efforts in different parts of the country. The Better India recently reported that his movement has planted more than 14 lakh native trees across Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
It also reported that more than two lakh children have received saplings through the initiative. These figures provide a picture of the scale that Soni’s work has reached, while his 10-million-tree target remains the larger goal towards which he says he is working.
For Soni, the mission is not limited to putting saplings into the ground himself. His work has also involved encouraging children and volunteers to participate in plantation activities. By involving people in the process, the initiative has sought to make tree planting a more accessible form of environmental action.
The focus on native trees is also part of the way his initiative has been described in recent coverage. Rather than presenting the 10-million figure as an immediate target, Soni’s work represents an ongoing effort built through individual plantation drives and community participation.
100,000 Trees In Bhiwani
One of the recent examples of Soni’s work took place in Bhiwani district, Haryana, where Touchforearth collaborated with 1win Charity for a plantation campaign in Paju village. The initiative involved planting 100,000 trees, with more than 100 volunteers spending 10 days clearing the land, preparing the soil, transporting saplings and carrying out the plantation across several acres. The campaign focused on restoring previously deserted areas and expanding green cover in the region.
Soni described the collaboration as an example of organisations moving beyond words and taking direct action on local environmental concerns. He said the plantation had the potential to improve air quality, support biodiversity and help restore soil health.
These statements represent Soni’s assessment of the potential benefits of the initiative and are not presented here as independently measured outcomes. The campaign was also documented through drone footage and documentary-style content, recording the plantation process and the work carried out by the volunteers.
From Personal Goal To Collective Action
The scale of Soni’s target makes his work a long-term undertaking. The 10-million-tree mission cannot be achieved through a single plantation drive, and his reported work shows an approach that involves repeated campaigns and participation from others. The involvement of children, volunteers and organisations has become part of the wider effort around Touchforearth.
The story also puts a human face on a number that can otherwise feel difficult to imagine. Ten million trees is an enormous figure, but Soni’s work is built around individual saplings and individual plantation drives. Each campaign requires people to prepare land, transport saplings and physically plant them. For a 22-year-old pursuing such a large environmental goal, the challenge lies not only in setting the target but in continuing the work needed to move towards it.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Environmental change is often discussed through large numbers and distant targets, but Soni’s journey shows how a young person’s sustained effort can become a platform for others to participate. His 10-million-tree mission remains a work in progress, with each plantation drive representing one step towards the stated goal. The involvement of volunteers and children also demonstrates how environmental action can begin at a community level. As Soni continues planting towards his 10-million-tree mission, can more young people find their own ways to turn concern for the environment into consistent action?
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