Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Environment and Forests K. Pawan Kalyan said nearly 7,000 acres of mangroves had been restored and developed across the State in the last two years. Another 4,000 acres would be taken up for restoration in 2026-27, he said in a message on X on Sunday (July 26, 2026), the International Day for the Conservation of Mangrove Ecosystems.

He said mangroves were the guardians of the coast and the lungs of the shoreline, and one of nature’s greatest gifts to humanity. Along the State’s 1,053-km coastline, these ecosystems serve as the first line of defence and protect coastal lives and livelihoods from cyclones, storm surges, sea erosion and the growing impact of climate change.

Mangroves nurture rich marine biodiversity, sustain coastal communities and capture vast reserves of blue carbon, making them indispensable to a resilient future, he said. He added that protecting mangroves was not merely about conserving forests, but about safeguarding lives, strengthening ecological security, securing livelihoods and preserving the natural wealth that future generations deserve.

The State government’s commitment to mangrove conservation was reflected in action through the Great Green Wall of Andhra Pradesh, which reaffirmed the State’s resolve to strengthen Andhra Pradesh’s natural shield against climate change and protect coastal communities, he said. The 4,000-acre target for 2026-27 was set to build on the restoration of the past two years, he said.

“Let us protect the forests that protect us. Every mangrove restored strengthens our coastline. Every mangrove conserved secures lives, livelihoods, and the future,” Mr. Pawan Kalyan said.

Published - July 26, 2026 12:10 pm IST