Our Journey to a Greener Future

Featured in Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Mann Ki Baat, SayTrees Environmental Trust represents one of India’s most credible, large-scale models for science-led environmental restoration and community-driven climate action.

SayTrees began as a group of volunteers united by a common passion under the leadership of Kapil Sharma and Deokant Payasi in 2007. Later, it was formally registered as a non-profit trust, co-founded by Kapil, an IT professional deeply committed to fighting climate change, and Deokant Payasi, a retired Indian Naval officer who shared the same vision. SayTrees began as a small, volunteer-led response to the city’s rapidly vanishing green cover. What started with weekend tree plantation drives has today grown into a nationally respected environmental organisation delivering nature-based solutions across 18 Indian states and 2 Union Territories.

Over the last 18 years, SayTrees has planted more than 10 million trees, partnered with 20,000+ farmers to promote agroforestry and sustainable livelihoods, and restored over 54 lakes and water bodies, collectively adding 5 billion litres of water-holding capacity. The organisation has also pioneered the Miyawaki method in India, creating 200+ dense urban forests that act as critical green lungs for cities.