Ethiopia kicked off an ambitious reforestation campaign on Thursday, aiming to plant 700 million trees in a single day as part of a broader national effort to plant 50 billion trees by 2026.
The initiative, known as the Green Legacy campaign, has been a signature environmental project of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed since 2019. Authorities reported that by early morning, approximately 355 million seedlings had already been planted by nearly 15 million people across the country, though independent verification of these figures was not available. Ethiopia’s population exceeds 120 million.
“We kicked off this year’s one-day Green Legacy planting early this morning,” Abiy wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “Our goal for the 7th year is 700 million seedlings. Let’s achieve it together.”
According to government data, more than 40 billion seedlings have been planted since the campaign began. The target for 2025 is to plant 7.5 billion trees.
Abiy, who came to power in 2018 as a reformist and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for ending hostilities with neighboring Eritrea, later faced criticism due to a brutal conflict in the northern Tigray region and more recent unrest in the Amhara region.
On Thursday, government offices across the country closed to encourage public participation in the planting effort. Public servants were mobilized nationwide to distribute and plant tree seedlings, with many scenes of active participation reported from the capital, Addis Ababa.
In Jifara Ber, dozens of volunteers, including children, were planting trees at sunrise. Among them was 72-year-old grandmother Almaz Tadu, who brought her grandchildren to take part. “It brings us together as neighbors,” she said.
Thirteen-year-old Nathenael Behailu said this was his third year participating. “I have come with my mother,” he shared. “I dream of seeing a green environment for my country.”
Another participant, Addis Ababa resident Ayanaw Asrat, said he had planted 15 seedlings that morning and had joined the effort for the last three years. “I am happy to contribute to making Addis greener,” he said.
Prime Minister Abiy took part in tree planting efforts in Jimma, a major city in the Oromia region. His cabinet members were dispatched to other regions to support local initiatives.
However, not everyone is convinced of the campaign’s feasibility. Kitessa Hundera, a forest ecologist at Jimma University, praised the intention behind the program but expressed skepticism about its execution. He raised concerns about the lack of technical expertise in site selection, the mixing of non-native and indigenous species, and the unclear survival rate of previously planted seedlings.
“Planting 700 million seedlings in one day would require around 35 million people, each planting 20 trees,” he said. “That’s simply not practical.”
Despite the doubts, Ethiopia’s Green Legacy campaign continues to be one of the most ambitious reforestation efforts in the world, aiming to combat deforestation, soil erosion, and climate change.
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