AP unveils 18 urban forests

Developed under the Centre’s Nagar Van Yojana with support from state and local funds, each urban forest has been created over nearly 50 hectares with an investment of around Rs 2 crore

Metro India News | AMARAVATI

Declaring that sustainable development can only be achieved by living in harmony with nature, Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Forests & Environment Minister Pawan Kalyan on Wednesday inaugurated 18 Urban Forests, Eco Parks and Community-Based Eco-Tourism Projects across the state. The projects, developed at a cost of Rs 36 crore, aim to create green spaces within rapidly expanding urban centres while promoting biodiversity conservation and eco-tourism.

Launching the projects virtually from his camp office in Mangalagiri, Pawan Kalyan said cities are increasingly turning into concrete jungles and that urban forests would serve as the green lungs of towns and cities, helping restore ecological balance while improving the quality of life.

“Any nation that grows alongside nature will endure for generations. Development achieved in harmony with nature is the only sustainable development. Our true legacy should not merely be the structures we build, but the environment we preserve for future generations,” he said.

Developed under the Centre’s Nagar Van Yojana with support from state and local funds, each urban forest has been created over nearly 50 hectares with an investment of around Rs 2 crore. Special Red Sanders Conservation Parks have been established at Koduru, Kailasagiri and Madanapalle, while Nakshatra Vanams and Rashi Vanams have been developed to blend biodiversity conservation with India’s traditional ecological knowledge. The parks offer a range of recreational and wellness facilities, including bird habitats, boating, kayaking, trekking trails, yoga centres and open gyms, making them destinations for both environmental education and public recreation.

Calling upon citizens to protect the newly created green spaces, Pawan Kalyan said the urban forests represent a green inheritance for future generations and urged people to actively participate in building a cleaner and greener Andhra Pradesh.

Several ministers, MLAs and senior Forest Department officials participated in the inaugural programme, which marks one of the state’s largest initiatives to expand urban green infrastructure and strengthen environmental conservation.