Ethiopia has successfully planted over 700 million seedlings in a single day, surpassing its ambitious goal and potentially setting a new world record. That is according to Dr. Girma Amente.
The unprecedented feat, spearheaded by the government’s "Green Legacy" initiative, aims to combat deforestation and climate change in the East African nation.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) hailed the achievement as a testament to Ethiopian unity and a landmark moment in the country's history.
The massive tree-planting effort, dubbed “Green Legacy” saw participation from across the country.
Citizens from all walks of life – leaders, workers, private and public institutions, embassies, international organisations, children, youth, adults, and the elderly – mobilised early Thursday morning to contribute to the ambitious undertaking. Images and videos circulating on social media show Ethiopians planting seedlings across various regions, demonstrating a unified commitment to environmental restoration.
“Planting by Planting, our plan to plant 700 million trees in one day has exceeded expectations,” Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed stated on his social media page.
He emphasised the significance of the Green Ashara initiative, calling it "an Ethiopian Tradition" that is "changing the face of Ethiopia ... changing the history of Ethiopia ... changing the face of the world.”
The Green Legacy initiative, launched in 2019, seeks to plant billions of trees across Ethiopia to combat the effects of deforestation and land degradation. The country has lost significant forest cover in recent decades due to agricultural expansion, logging, and climate change, leading to soil erosion, reduced biodiversity, and increased vulnerability to drought.
The ambitious reforestation program aims to restore degraded landscapes, improve water resources, and enhance the country's resilience to climate change. The project focuses on planting indigenous tree species that are well-suited to the local environment and contribute to biodiversity conservation.
The Prime Minister expressed his gratitude to all those who participated in the Green Ashara initiative, including coordinators, volunteers, and international partners.
He acknowledged the "generous and generous participation" of Ethiopians both at home and abroad, as well as foreign citizens who contributed to the effort.
“We thank all those who are coordinating this mission, who heard our call and came out and planted, Planting is providing shade for our children,” Abiy Ahmed said.
While the exact number of trees planted is still being verified, the initial reports suggest that Ethiopia has significantly exceeded its target of 700 million trees. If confirmed, this would represent a new world record for the number of trees planted in a single day, surpassing India’s previous record of 66 million trees planted in 2017.
The success of the Green Legacy Initiative highlights the potential of collective action to address environmental challenges.
It also underscores the importance of government leadership in mobilising communities and fostering a sense of environmental responsibility.
The Ethiopian government hopes that the Green Legacy initiative will serve as a model for other countries in Africa and around the world facing similar challenges. The initiative aims to demonstrate that reforestation can be a powerful tool for mitigating climate change, restoring degraded ecosystems, and improving the livelihoods of communities. The lasting impact of this single day of monumental effort remains to be seen, as the long-term survival and growth of the planted trees will be crucial to achieving the goals of the Green Legacy initiative.
The world now watches to see if Ethiopia's bold experiment becomes a sustainable model for large-scale environmental restoration.
