Andhra to plant 55 lakh palmyra seeds under Great Green Wall

The Andhra Pradesh Forest Department has launched a large-scale palmyra seed collection and plantation drive under the state government's Great Green Wall initiative. Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan announced on Tuesday that the government aims to establish palmyra groves on 5,499 hectares along the coastline, with a target of planting nearly 55 lakh seeds.

The plan has three tiers: mangrove forests as the first layer, palmyra groves as the second natural windbreak against cyclones, and a third layer of broader coastal green cover. The Forest Department has collected 13 lakh seeds this fruiting season and planted 1.65 lakh seeds with help from panchayat and revenue departments, schools, and local communities.

Kalyan said palmyra is well-suited for coastal conditions as it withstands salinity, strong winds, and sandy soil, and its deep roots check erosion. He urged communities and organisations to join the drive and protect young plants. The Great Green Wall is part of the state's goal to achieve 50 per cent green cover and restore degraded ecosystems.