Ethiopia planted nearly 800 million trees as part of a climate initiative that grows year by year and that the Ethiopian prime minister describes as the country’s environmental effort to help the world.
The massive campaign, taking place in a single day, is carried out under the Green Legacy Initiative (GLI, in English) and “reflects Ethiopia’s ongoing commitment to restoring degraded landscapes, strengthening ecosystems, and building a green and resilient future,” reports the Ethiopian media outlet Fana Broadcasting Corporate.
In addition, it adds, this initiative also arises within the scope of growing global concerns about climate change, biodiversity loss and environmental degradation, the Ethiopian newspaper reported.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said, at one of the locations where the action is taking place, that trees “represent hope and that the plants laid today on the ground are investments in tomorrow and in the future of the children.”
The effort aimed at reaching 800 million trees planted in a single day takes place in rural areas and in urban centers across the country and, according to the Government Communications Service, cited by national media, more than 22.2 million Ethiopians are taking part in today’s national tree-planting campaign.
Abiy Ahmed also states that the ongoing tree-planting efforts in Ethiopia over the past seven years, through GLI, have laid a solid foundation for the country’s prosperity, development and sustainable growth.
Since 2019, Ethiopia has been conducting reforestation campaigns and has planted more than 48 billion trees and shrubs by Monday.
“The initiative has continued to expand each year, with the participation of millions of citizens during the rainy season, a time when natural conditions provide favorable circumstances for the survival and growth of plants,” the media outlet reports.
“The 800 million trees that are expected to be planted or sown today form part of Ethiopia’s broader ambition to increase forest cover, rehabilitate degraded soils and strengthen the country’s capacity to address climate-related challenges,” he explains.
The campaign also contributes to efforts to improve soil health, protect watersheds and increase water availability by reducing erosion and aiding the recharge of groundwater, he adds.
In addition, the planting of fruit trees, including varieties of avocado, mango and papaya, has also opened new possibilities to improve nutrition, raise family incomes and strengthen agricultural value chains, including opportunities for future export growth, he notes.
Ethiopia is preparing to host the 32nd United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP32), in 2027.
According to the prime minister, COP32 will provide Ethiopia with the opportunity to showcase its experience in green development and to share its practical lessons with the international community.
