AP Unveils Ambitious Plan to Achieve 50% Green Cover by 2047

Andhra Pradesh has set an ambitious environmental goal of expanding its forest and green cover to 50% of the state’s geographical area by 2047, with the government preparing a coordinated framework to drive large-scale ecological restoration and plantation programmes.

To achieve the target, the state has established the Andhra Pradesh Society for Greening and Reforestation for Ecological Enrichment (AP-GREEN), bringing green initiatives undertaken by various departments and institutions under a common platform. The programme will function under the supervision of Deputy Chief Minister and Forest and Environment Minister Pawan Kalyan, with a focus on ecological restoration, climate resilience, nature-based livelihoods and rural employment.

Andhra Pradesh currently has 37.42 lakh hectares of notified forest area, accounting for 22.96% of its geographical area. As part of the larger 2047 roadmap, the government has prepared an action plan to raise green cover to 33% by 2030.

The initiative will be implemented in mission mode through farm forestry, agroforestry, avenue plantations, plantations along canal bunds and shelter belts, besides extensive plantation drives in urban and rural areas. Priority will also be given to restoring degraded land, mining-affected areas, wastelands and ecologically sensitive zones. Farmers, self-help groups, educational institutions, voluntary organisations and CSR partners will be involved, while a statewide nursery network will be developed to ensure the production and distribution of quality saplings. GIS, geo-tagging and digital monitoring will be used to track plantations, sapling survival and green cover growth.

Funding will be mobilised through state grants, Central schemes, NABARD, CSR funds, carbon finance, carbon credits, green bonds, District Mineral Funds and eco-tourism. Annual, half-yearly, quarterly and monthly targets will be set to monitor progress and ensure transparency.

AP-GREEN will operate through a three-tier governance system. The state-level governing council, chaired by Pawan Kalyan, will have 24 members and meet twice a year. An Executive Committee will oversee coordination, while a senior IFS officer will serve as Commissioner. At the district level, Green Development Authorities headed by Joint Collectors will drive implementation, extending the mission down to the mandal level. Pawan Kalyan has called on citizens to join the effort to protect nature while advancing Andhra Pradesh’s development.