Ethiopia has once again demonstrated its remarkable collective spirit, surpassing its ambitious goal of planting 700 million tree seedlings in a single day as part of the ongoing national Green Legacy initiative. The monumental achievement was underscored by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who took to X (formerly Twitter) to express the nation's pride.
"Ethiopians have once again shown today that when they come together, they can achieve miracles," Prime Minister Abiy tweeted, celebrating the success of the initiative. He further stated, "Under the motto 'Rejuvenation Through Planting,' our plan to plant 700 million trees in a single day has been more successful than anticipated."
The Prime Minister highlighted the widespread participation, noting that leaders and employees, private and public institutions, embassies and international organizations, along with individuals of all ages – children, youth, adults, and elders, both men and women – rose early to contribute to the Green Legacy. "Today, even before the birds, they headed out for the Green Legacy," he remarked, emphasizing the nation's dedication.
Abiy Ahmed asserted that the Green Legacy is rapidly becoming an ingrained Ethiopian culture, transforming the nation's landscape and history, and even impacting the global environmental outlook. "It's changing the face of Ethiopia. It's changing Ethiopia's history. It's changing the face of the world," his tweet read.
He extended gratitude to all involved, stating, "We thank everyone who coordinated this mission and all who heard our call and came out to plant. On behalf of Ethiopia, we thank Ethiopians, Diaspora Ethiopians, and foreign nationals for their widespread and full participation."
The Prime Minister concluded his message with a poignant reflection on the initiative's long-term vision: "To plant is to cast shade for our children!"
Ethiopia's Green Legacy initiative, launched in 2019 by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, aims to plant billions of tree seedlings across the country to combat climate change, reverse deforestation, and enhance environmental sustainability. The current planting season targets 7.5 billion seedlings, building on the over 40 billion trees already planted since the program's inception. This latest single-day record further solidifies Ethiopia's commitment to its ambitious environmental goals.
