Ethiopia mobilises millions to plant 700 million trees in a day under Green Legacy Initiative
The Green Legacy Initiative aligns with Ethiopia’s commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those related to climate action and zero hunger, and seeks to build resilience in a country frequently affected by drought and environmental degradation.
The Ethiopian government on Thursday launched an ambitious environmental effort to plant 700 million trees in a single day as part of its ongoing Green Legacy Initiative.
First introduced in 2019, the Green Legacy Initiative is a nationwide campaign aimed at restoring degraded land, combating climate change, and enhancing food security.
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It aligns with Ethiopia’s commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those related to climate action and zero hunger, and seeks to build resilience in a country frequently affected by drought and environmental degradation.
Since its inception, the initiative has mobilised over 20 million Ethiopians to plant more than 25 billion seedlings, exceeding its initial four-year goal of 20 billion. It has also led to the establishment of over 120,000 nurseries and created more than 767,000 jobs, with significant benefits for women and youth.
Patriotic duty
On Wednesday, ahead of the campaign, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed took to X to encourage nationwide participation, calling the tree-planting effort a patriotic duty to protect Ethiopia’s environment for future generations.
"This Thursday, let's make history together. This week, Ethiopia will once again rise to the challenge of building a greener, more resilient future. Tomorrow, starting at 6 am and as part of our Green Legacy Initiative, we will aim to plant 700 million seedlings in a single day. An ambitious target, but one that reflects the strength, unity, and determination of our people," said Abiy.
"This is more than just tree planting. It is a call to action for every citizen, young and old, urban and rural, to take part in restoring our environment, protecting our water sources, improving livelihoods, and securing a sustainable future for generations to come. I urge each and every one of you to mobilise and participate. Together, we can grow not only trees but a stronger, greener Ethiopia."
On Thursday, Abiy followed up with a post sharing photos of himself and his family planting trees, underscoring his commitment to the campaign.
"We kicked off this year's one-day #GreenLegacy planting early this morning. Our goal for the 7th year: 700 million seedlings. Let's achieve it together!" he captioned the photographs.
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