ADDIS ABABA — The Green Legacy Initiative, a large-scale reforestation campaign spearheaded by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, has significantly increased the nation's forest cover from 17.2% in 2019 to 23.6% in 2023, according to the latest Forest Cover report.

According to Ethiopian News Agency, this initiative, launched in 2019, has been critical in enhancing the protection of ecosystems and expanding forested areas across the country. Over the past five years, Ethiopia has committed to an ambitious annual planting program, which has been pivotal in achieving these results.

Kebede Yimam, Director-General of Ethiopian Forestry Development, highlighted the initiative's role in addressing poverty and fostering economic growth through sustainable natural resource management. He noted that Ethiopia's forest resources had been underutilized for decades, suffering from poor protection and rampant deforestation for construction and fuel needs.

Historical data from studies show a consistent decrease in deforestation rates, from 92,000 hectares annually between 2000 and 2013, to 38,000 hectares between 2014 and 2019, and further down to 27,703 hectares recently. This reduction is seen as a direct result of the Green Legacy Initiative's influence and the increasing societal awareness about forest conservation.

The initiative not only aims to boost forest cover but also to cultivate a culture of environmental stewardship among Ethiopians. The director-general reported a significant improvement in the survival rate of planted seedlings, which he attributes to growing community engagement and enhanced care for saplings.

In a statement last week during this year's Green Legacy pre-launch event, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed emphasized the ambitious goal of planting 7.5 billion seedlings in the current cycle, aiming towards a total target of 50 billion seedlings.