VISAKHAPATNAM: Andhra Pradesh has been placed in the ‘Good’ category in the Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) of National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries 2020–25, conducted by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII).
The report was released by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav during the Indian Conservation Conference (ICCON-2025), held from June 24 to 27 at WII in Dehradun, in the presence of WII Director Virendra Rambahal Tiwari. The assessment covered 10 Protected Areas (PAs) in Andhra Pradesh in the repeat evaluation cycle. The State recorded a mean MEE score of 62.76%, with individual scores ranging from 51.56% to 78.13%, resulting in an overall ‘Good’ classification. The report noted that while several PAs improved, others saw a decline, highlighting the need for better governance and site-specific interventions.
Among national parks, Papikonda National Park showed notable progress, improving from 45.5% (‘Fair’) to 60% (‘Good’). Sri Venkateswara National Park declined from 70.31% to 63.71% but retained its ‘Good’ rating. Rajiv Gandhi (Rameswaram) National Park slipped slightly from 55% to 54%, remaining in the ‘Fair’ category.
Of the seven Wildlife Sanctuaries evaluated, Rollapadu Wildlife Sanctuary achieved the highest score at 78.13%, moving from the ‘Good’ to the ‘Very Good’ category. Nellapattu Wildlife SanctuaryNellapattu Wildlife Sanctuary improved from 65% to 69.53%, and Kolleru Wildlife Sanctuary progressed from 53.33% (‘Fair’) to 61.29% (‘Good’). Sri Lankamalleswara Wildlife Sanctuary also improved significantly, rising from 59.17% to 73.44%, securing a ‘Good’ status.
However, three sanctuaries showed a decline. Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary dropped from 65% to 59.68%, Koundinya Wildlife Sanctuary from 65% to 56.25%, and Sri Penusila Narasimha Wildlife Sanctuary from 57.5% to 51.56%, all moving into the ‘Fair’ category.
Four PAs — Coringa, Krishna, and Pulicat Lake Wildlife Sanctuaries, and Gundla Brahmeswara Wildlife Sanctuary — were not assessed in this cycle due to their classification as Coastal and Marine Protected Areas or Tiger Reserves, which are evaluated separately.
The report recommends strengthening administrative capacity and addressing site-specific gaps to enhance future conservation outcomes.