Abubakar Tahiru embraces a tree while attempting his world record tree-hugging goal.

Abubakar Tahiru, an Auburn University College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment (CFWE) graduate student, has set a new world record for the most trees hugged in one hour, according to Guinness World Records. Tahiru’s record of 1,123 tree hugs was achieved in Alabama’s Tuskegee National Forest, not far from Auburn University’s main campus.

A native of Tepa, Ghana, Tahiru acquired his affection for conservation and nature while growing up farming with his family. Upon earning an undergraduate degree from one of the top universities in his home country, he moved to the United States to pursue a Master of Science in forestry from Auburn.

Abubakar Tahiru races to accomplish his world record tree-hugging goal.

Alabama is home to more than 23 million acres of forestland. It is safe to say that Tahiru had plenty of options for trees worthy of the task. The record attempt was judged by Guinness World Records, who set the guidelines for a hug to count towards the goal. The rule was that both arms must wrap around the tree’s trunk, closing the embrace. A caveat to awarding one tree hug is that Tahiru must not inflict any harm to the tree, or the entire attempt would be disqualified.

An added difficulty was that Tahiru could not consume any water during the attempt because he was fasting for Ramadan. After a tiring sequence of 1,123 hugs, he set the record for most trees hugged in one hour. The Ghanaian boasted an average of approximately 19 trees per minute, or one hug every three seconds.

Tahiru’s gesture of performing this feat was not only to hold a new world record but also to highlight the important role of trees in our ecosystems. The new world record holder says that he will continue studying forestry with a focus on sustainable forest management practices through collaboration during his time at the CFWE.