Andhra Pradesh was rated the fourth most affected state in India by coastal erosion, with officials finding that 32% of the coast is actively eroding. File | Photo credit: V. RAJU
As Andhra Pradesh’s 1,053-km coastline faces increasing threats of loss of livelihood and property due to cyclones and environmental degradation, the Ministry of Environment, Forests, Science and Technology, under the auspices of Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan, has taken the initiative to build a 5-km-wide ‘Great Green Wall of Andhra Pradesh’ probably by 203 migration20 migration. those natural phenomena.
According to official sources, the Great Green Wall (GGW) is designed to protect more than three million people living in coastal areas by serving as a “living ecological shield” while promoting biodiversity, climate resilience and sustainable development.
The GGW will include a multi-layered green buffer zone with mangroves, buffer zone plantations, inland vegetation and even sand dunes that will reduce the impact of cyclones and storms, stabilize coastlines and enhance livelihoods through eco-tourism, sustainable fisheries, etc.
Restoration of the green cover
The project involves the restoration of one lakh hectares of green cover as Andhra Pradesh is considered one of the most climate-vulnerable states in India, with more than 3.30 million people living within 5 km of the coast facing frequent cyclones, floods and rising sea levels that cause significant economic and human losses.
Specifically, Andhra Pradesh was rated as the fourth most affected state in India by coastal erosion. Officials found that 32% of the coastline is actively eroding and the coastline of the Krishna and Godavari estuaries is critically vulnerable.
Many ecosystems are reported to be degrading due to sea-level rise, storms and coastal changes, and extreme sea-level rise is predicted to affect 282 villages near the coast, putting more than a million people at risk of displacement and economic instability.
GGW was therefore conceived and is in the process of being created with a vision to “build a resilient, biodiverse and economically vibrant coastal Andhra Pradesh”.
Three components
The GGW consists of three components, the first of which is a “seaward edge” consisting of mangroves that will absorb tidal energy and limit the impacts of tidal storms, and buffer strips in areas outside the estuary. The other two are “windbreaks” created from canal fortifications and roadside plantations, and a “communal buffer” with agroforestry and community plantations.
Funds are planned to be drawn from MGNREGS, Compensatory Afforestation Management and Planning Authority of India (CAMPA), Green Loan Scheme of Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, District Mineral Funds and International Climate Finance Fund.
Published – 22 Oct 2025 20:37 IST
