ADDIS ABABA—Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed called on Ethiopians to make history by participating in a massive tree planting event scheduled for August 23, 2024, aiming to plant 600 million tree seedlings in a single day. This effort is part of the broader Green Legacy Initiative which seeks to plant a total of 50 billion tree seedlings.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, this year’s goal is to add 7.5 billion tree seedlings to the nation’s forest cover, progressing towards the campaign’s target. Since the initiative began five years ago, over 32.5 billion tree seedlings have already been planted. Ethiopia’s ambitious efforts are part of a strategy to increase forest coverage and protect existing woodlands, enhancing biodiversity and combatting climate change.
The Prime Minister highlighted the critical role forests play in environmental stability, noting their importance in providing oxygen, storing carbon, and regulating the climate. He emphasized the need for community involvement under the campaign motto: ‘A Nation that Plants; A Generation that Sustains.’ Last year’s efforts under the overnight Green Legacy programs led to the planting of over 566 million saplings, significantly aiding in the restoration of Ethiopia’s forests and protection of water resources. The country’s forest cover has notably increased from 17.2 percent in 2019 to 23.6 percent in 2023.
In his social media post today, PM Abiy reiterated the call to action, urging citizens to prepare for the upcoming tree planting day, which aims to surpass Ethiopia’s previous records in a unified effort to sustain and expand the nation’s green infrastructure.