ADDIS ABABA – Ethiopia is gearing up for a massive tree-planting event on August 23, 2024, as part of the ongoing Green Legacy Initiative, aimed at bolstering the nation’s environmental conservation and food security efforts.

According to Ethiopian News Agency, the initiative, now in its fifth year, has been instrumental in enhancing Ethiopia’s environmental and food security measures. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has rallied citizens to plant 600 million saplings in a single night, an escalation from the previous year’s record of 566 million. The Prime Minister’s call to action specifically encourages adults and teenagers to plant 20 and 10 trees respectively, emphasizing the importance of this endeavor for future generations.

The initiative has received widespread support across the country, with leaders like Sidama Region President Desta Lendamo and Southern Ethiopia Region President Tilahun Kebede committing to meet the national planting targets. Dire Dawa’s Mayor Kedir Juhar also announced plans for the city to contribute one million saplings to the effort.

Cabinet members, including the Minister of Agriculture Girma Amente and the Minister of Women and Social Affairs Ergoge Tesfaye, have highlighted the initiative’s significant role in addressing climate change, environmental protection, and enhancing food security. They urged all citizens to participate in the overnight planting event.

As Ethiopia continues its ambitious campaign, having already planted over 32.5 billion trees toward its goal of 50 billion, the nation remains on track to plant an additional 7.5 billion trees this year. This initiative is a cornerstone of Ethiopia’s environmental strategy, aiming to reach 40 billion planted seedlings by year’s end.