District Forest Officer Mahaboob Basha has announced that the Forest Department is intensifying green cover efforts under the Harit Andhra Pradesh initiative, aiming to carry out plantations over 960.48 hectares across five forest divisions in the current financial year.The targeted regions include Udayagiri, Kavali, Atmakuru, Nellore, and Nellore Rural divisions. Thanks to recent rainfall, plantation work has already been completed over 100 hectares, with pit-digging and soil preparation finalised across most remaining sites.The department has readied over 20.65 million saplings in its nurseries, selected based on the region’s climate and soil compatibility. Basha expressed confidence that the full target would be met by October, noting the favourable planting conditions and well-prepared sites.Programme Funding and Workforce EngagementThe initiative is being jointly funded through the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) and the Forest Department’s budget. This dual funding model ensures that the programme delivers environmental restoration alongside rural employment.Thousands of rural workers are currently engaged in sapling raising, pit preparation, watering, and aftercare, offering both ecological and livelihood benefits to the local communities.Climate Action and Community ParticipationOfficials emphasised the initiative’s broader goals of boosting tree cover, mitigating climate change, improving groundwater recharge, and enhancing shade and shelter in both urban and rural settings. Plantations are being carried out on vacant government land, along roadsides and highways, in residential colonies, and within existing forest areas.Environmental activists have welcomed the initiative. R Srinivas, a local environmental volunteer, stated, “Planting trees is not just about greenery—it’s about cleaner air, better rainfall, and a sustainable future. It’s promising to see employment schemes like MGNREGS aligned with climate action.”Call for Public InvolvementThe district administration has encouraged citizens, NGOs, and community-based organisations to participate actively in the afforestation drive. Officials stressed that public ownership is essential for the long-term success of the plantations.“We urge communities to adopt plantation sites, care for the saplings, and treat them as valuable local assets,” the administration stated.