Abdul Hakim Awal, a 23-year-old journalist from Kumasi, Ghana, has set a new world record for the longest time hugging a tree. His “tree-hug-a-thon” took place at the Kumasi Cultural Centre, where he embraced a tree for an astounding 24 hours and 21 minutes, breaking the previous record of 16 hours set earlier this year by Ugandan environmental activist Faith Patricia Ariokot.

Abdul took on this challenge to raise awareness about the importance of nature conservation in Ghana. To make his effort even more impactful, he pledged to plant a tree for every minute he spent hugging the tree, resulting in 1,461 new trees being planted. Throughout the entire attempt, Abdul was required to stand with his arms wrapped around the tree, without taking any breaks.

Having seen the damaging effects of desertification in his family’s hometown of Garu, Abdul is determined to launch a nationwide tree-planting initiative. He stressed the importance of tree conservation, saying, “We know how trees, a vital resource for humanity, are becoming scarce in Ghana. Despite learning about tree preservation from a young age, our collective efforts are not as strong as they should be. This record attempt, for me, emphasizes the critical need to preserve human life by preserving trees.”