Restoration – Andhra Pradesh Secures Top-Five Rank in Land Recovery Efforts
Restoration – Andhra Pradesh has emerged as one of the country’s leading performers in ecological restoration, securing the fifth position among Indian States for both the extent of land restored and the volume of carbon captured through restoration initiatives. The findings were highlighted in India’s Second Progress Report on the Bonn Challenge, covering restoration achievements between 2011 and 2020. The report was released by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav and evaluates progress made by States and Union Territories in restoring degraded landscapes.
Extensive Area Brought Under Restoration
According to the assessment, Andhra Pradesh restored nearly 1.61 million hectares of land during the decade-long period. Figures submitted by the State Forest Department indicate that 16,12,934 hectares underwent restoration between 2011 and 2020. In addition, the Department of Land Resources reported another 655 hectares restored between 2018 and 2020, further contributing to the State’s overall performance.
The report notes that Andhra Pradesh consistently expanded its restoration activities throughout the assessment period, reflecting a sustained focus on improving land quality and ecosystem health.
Strong Performance in Carbon Sequestration
Alongside its restoration achievements, the State also ranked fifth nationally in carbon sequestration. Restoration projects were estimated to have absorbed around 19.79 million tonnes of carbon after accounting for losses due to mortality. When mortality factors were excluded, the estimated carbon sequestration reached approximately 26.39 million tonnes.
The calculations were carried out using internationally accepted guidelines developed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) for land-use and forestry assessments. These estimates underline the role of restoration projects in strengthening climate mitigation efforts.
Significant Carbon Dioxide Reduction Impact
The report further states that restoration activities in Andhra Pradesh helped sequester an estimated 72.64 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent after considering mortality rates. Such outcomes demonstrate the environmental benefits generated through large-scale afforestation, landscape restoration, and vegetation improvement programmes implemented across the State.
Officials noted that the gradual expansion of restoration work has contributed not only to environmental recovery but also to improved carbon storage capacity in natural ecosystems.
Restoration Activity Accelerated Over the Decade
The pace of restoration increased substantially during the review period. The area restored annually rose from just 6,981 hectares in 2011-12 to 198,920 hectares in 2019-20. The highest annual achievement was recorded in 2018-19, when 312,186 hectares were brought under restoration initiatives.
Several years witnessed particularly strong progress. During 2016-17, restoration efforts covered 274,635 hectares, while 229,409 hectares were restored in 2017-18. These figures indicate a significant scaling up of conservation and land recovery programmes across the State.
Gains in Forest and Tree Cover
Forest-related assessments included in the report show notable improvements in vegetation cover. Andhra Pradesh added 5,360.30 square kilometres of forest cover and another 714 square kilometres of tree cover between 2015 and 2020.
Tree cover alone accounted for 2.87 percent of the State’s geographical area. The report also estimated the State’s growing stock at 115.71 million cubic metres within forests and 73.16 million cubic metres in Trees Outside Forests (ToF).
Meanwhile, the total forest carbon stock was estimated at 230.22 million tonnes, equivalent to approximately 844.14 million tonnes of carbon dioxide.
Land Degradation Remains a Challenge
Despite the encouraging progress, the report pointed to continuing concerns related to land degradation. Around 2.38 million hectares of land, representing 14.84 percent of Andhra Pradesh’s total geographical area, remains affected by desertification and degradation processes.
The degraded area increased by 79,283 hectares between 2011-13 and 2018-19. Water erosion and deterioration of vegetation were identified as the primary factors contributing to this rise, highlighting the need for sustained restoration and conservation measures.
Employment and Economic Benefits
Beyond environmental gains, restoration initiatives also generated substantial socio-economic benefits. The assessment found that restoration programmes created approximately 48.28 million person-days of employment between 2011 and 2020.
Investments directed towards forest and landscape restoration during the period were estimated at ₹9,255.4 million. Most of the funding originated from domestic public expenditure, reflecting significant government support for ecological recovery and sustainable land management initiatives across Andhra Pradesh.