In a major climate resilience initiative, the Andhra Pradesh government has announced plans to develop a 5-km-wide ‘Great Green Wall of Andhra Pradesh’ along its 1,053-km-long coastline by 2030. The project launched under the supervision of Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan and the Department of Environment, Forests, Science & Technology, aims to protect over three million people from cyclones, sea-level rise, and environmental degradation.
Envisioned as a “living ecological shield,” the Great Green Wall (GGW) will serve as a multi-layered green buffer zone featuring mangroves, shelterbelt plantations, inland vegetation, and natural sand dunes. This vast ecological barrier is expected to absorb tidal energy, reduce storm surges, stabilise eroding shorelines, and promote sustainable livelihoods through eco-tourism and fisheries.
The state plans to restore one lakh hectares of green cover as part of the project. Andhra Pradesh, identified as one of India’s most climate-vulnerable states, has over 3.3 million people living within five kilometres of the coast, regularly exposed to cyclones, floods, and shoreline erosion. Official assessments have revealed that 32 per cent of the state’s coastline is actively eroding, with the Krishna and Godavari estuaries among the most threatened zones.
Environmental experts warn that continued sea-level rise and storm surges could endanger 282 coastal villages, displacing more than a million people and severely impacting livelihoods. The GGW initiative aims to counter these risks by integrating biodiversity restoration with economic development, embodying the vision of a “resilient, biodiverse, and economically vibrant coastal Andhra Pradesh.”
The project will have three core components: the ‘seaward edge’ consisting of mangroves and shelterbelt plantations, ‘wind breaks’ developed through canal bund and roadside plantations, and a ‘community buffer’ featuring agroforestry and local plantations to enhance income and resilience for nearby communities.
Funding for the ambitious project is expected from multiple sources, including the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA), the Green Credit Programme of the Environment Ministry, District Mineral Funds, and international climate finance channels.
Officials say the initiative represents a crucial step in transforming Andhra Pradesh vulnerable coast into a model of ecological and economic sustainability, setting a precedent for climate adaptation projects across India.