On May 2, 2026, a world record was officially established in the “Mass Events” category for the largest number of organized simultaneous tree-planting locations united by a single initiative in Ukraine and abroad.
The scale of the results is truly impressive:
• 575 organized locations in 30 countries worldwide.
• 1,102,365 trees planted, including:
• 876,324 — trees of memory
• 226,041 — trees of life
The record was set as part of the global Greening of the Planet initiative within the framework of the “1 Million Trees of Memory and Life” campaign. The event was organized by the “Greening of Ukraine” Charity Foundation and the “World Ukrainianhood” NGO, with support from the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the international glossy publication BusinessWoman Magazine, and the Business Woman Club international women’s alliance.
On this day, participants from more than 30 countries joined the effort—including Ukraine, Poland, Germany, Italy, Spain, France, Canada, the USA, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, and others. This vast geography transformed the initiative into a global movement where thousands of people united for a common goal: preserving memory and restoring the environment.
The central location was Kyiv, specifically the M. M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden, which brought together state representatives, the diplomatic corps, and leaders from culture, business, and the public sector. Among those who participated in the planting were: Iryna Mudra, Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine; Dmytro Lubinets, Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights; Elena Leticia Teresa Mikusinski, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Argentina to Ukraine; Natalka Cmoc, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Canada to Ukraine; Valentyn Ostryzhnyi, Deputy Commander of the National Guard of Ukraine; Serhiy Kozyr, Member of Parliament; Hennadiy Chyzhykov, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Ukraine; Oksana Bilozir, People’s Artist of Ukraine; Vitaliy Romanchukevich, representative of the banking sector; and Nataliia Zaimenko, Director of the National Botanical Garden.
As Hanna Krysiuk, CEO and founder of the Book of World Records, stated during the live broadcast:
“I sincerely thank everyone who joined this initiative—all participants, location organizers, those who purchased planting materials, those who planted trees together with the families of the fallen, and those who planted trees of life. This is a colossal collective effort made possible through international support.”
She specifically noted that the largest planting volumes were provided by Turkey, Portugal, Canada, Slovakia, and Poland, expressing gratitude to the respective ministries and forestry departments of these countries for providing hundreds of thousands of seedlings.
Special recognition was given to the Ukrainian regions that organized the highest number of locations:
• Poltava region
• Sumy region
• Khmelnytskyi region
• Kirovohrad region
These regions organized dozens of sites, uniting local authorities, the military, the public sector, businesses, military administrations, city councils, and local communities.
We extend special thanks for the support in coordination and information dissemination to the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, which ensured the successful organization of locations both in Ukraine and abroad. We also thank all the record-holders who joined the campaign and helped with planting in their respective regions and countries.
This is more than just a record.
It is living memory taking root in new life. It is global unity without borders. And it is proof that a shared idea is capable of uniting the world.
Read also: From Pain to Support: The Story of a Woman Who Turned Loss into Strength for Others
Photo: from the archive of Greening of the planet