By: Fistum Getachew
On Monday 3rd of August, 2026 Ethiopians, under the Green Legacy Initiative, have set a new record with the planting of 805.3 million tree seedlings in a single day out of the expected number of 8billion to be completed at the end of the current rainy season! ‘Let us plant hope’ is the motto for this year’s campaign of the Green Legacy Initiative that began seven years ago and has continued since under the conception brought to reality by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD).
An average of more than six billion tree seedlings have been planted through the last seven years, now reaching a total of more than fifty billion seedlings. According to the Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture, more than 80% of the seedlings have grown up and continue to do so, which is a remarkable achievement. This is also because a campaign of awareness creation has been carried out side by side with the direction of how to plant the seedlings. This was given to all those who take part in the planting of the seedlings, urging them to take care of the seedlings they have planted and not abandon them once they have planted them. This continuous nurturing activity has increased the percentage of surviving seedlings once they are planted.
It is known that the Green Legacy Initiative was begun in the Ethiopian principal rainy season of 2018 with the launch of the planting of more than five billion seedlings. Across the years Ethiopia has increased the ratio of fruits to be planted as compared to the rest of the seedlings meant only for greening the environment and covering the landscape so that it prevents soil erosion and keeps the environment intact. In every season a day is particularly dedicated to planting as many seedlings as possible with the maximum number of people taking part in the movement, and a day is totally dedicated to planting tree seedlings, putting aside all other activities for a day. And through the years new records of numbers of seedlings planted in a single day have been reported beginning with 250 million seedlings seven years ago to the current latest high of 805.3 million reported on Monday 3rd August 2026!
As people get more and more experience with how to plant seedlings through the past several years and the number of people taking part and with the number of seedlings of all types availed by the youths who have specialized in preparing the nurseries, the number of seedlings planted has also grown to new heights reaching now more than sixty billion. This is another demonstration that Ethiopians are now well aware of the significance of their task and how decisive this activity is becoming in transforming the environment and contributing significantly to the efforts made to combat climate change.
On the occasion of the launching of the new landmark tree planting day Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) has urged citizens to do all they can to plant as many seedlings as possible without getting tired or being discouraged or prevented from planting due the weather conditions of the day. He said citizens must be aware of t he importance of the action to the whole green legacy movement which has secured the admiration and appreciation of the world particularly the people who are actively taking part in similar endeavours throughout the globe because they are well cognizant of the critical facts on the ground. The premier went on to state that people should show their resolve and unity as well as resilience in engaging in this significant milestone in the Green Legacy campaign.
At the end of the day the premier has hailed the country’s record-breaking Green Legacy achievement, saying the successful planting of 805.3 million seedlings by 26.2 million citizens within 12 hours demonstrates Ethiopia’s capacity for collective action and sets an example for Africa.
He commended the Ethiopian people for their massive voluntary participation, describing the milestone as a historic accomplishment that shows what can be achieved through unity, shared responsibility, and collective commitment.
The Prime Minister said the success of today’s campaign demonstrates that Ethiopia can move beyond aspirations and translate ambitious plans into practical achievements through collective action.
He noted that the participation of more than 26 million citizens in the planting campaign reflects the strength of national solidarity and a shared commitment to creating a greener future for generations to come.
Prime Minister Abiy said the success of the campaign has positioned Ethiopia as an example for Africa, demonstrating the potential of large-scale community participation in addressing environmental challenges and advancing climate resilience. During today’s 12-hour nationwide campaign, more than 291,400 hectares of land were covered with seedlings, according to the prime minister.
He further announced that 6.5 billion seedlings have so far been planted since the beginning of this year’s Green Legacy planting season, while the remaining 1.5 billion seedlings are expected to be planted in the coming months to achieve the annual target of over 8 billion seedlings.
The latest milestone comes as Ethiopia advances preparations to host the 32nd United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP32), reinforcing the country’s commitment to global climate action and sustainability.
Regarding the new record set by Ethiopia with the planting of more than 800 million seedlings in a day, various high government officials have expressed their admiration and the symbolic importance of such an achievement.
Accordingly, Deputy Prime Minister Temesgen Truneh has congratulated Ethiopians, stating the achievement reflects what can be accomplished when a nation acts with unity, determination, and shared purpose.
Temesgen said the latest milestone represents another proud chapter in Ethiopia’s Green Legacy journey, which has grown beyond a tree-planting campaign into a national commitment to environmental restoration, sustainable development, and safeguarding the future.
He highlighted that the initiative has contributed to transforming degraded landscapes, restoring ecosystems, revitalizing water sources, and creating a greener environment through the collective efforts of millions of Ethiopians.
The Deputy Prime Minister said the achievement has demonstrated Ethiopia’s capacity to translate ambitious visions into practical results, noting that the country’s environmental restoration efforts have earned international admiration and recognition.
He praised Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s leadership in advancing the Green Legacy Initiative, describing it as a bold vision that has inspired a shared national purpose.
Temesgen stressed that the seedlings planted during the campaign represent a lasting investment for generations to come, contributing to restored watersheds, improved livelihoods, cleaner air, and a more climate-resilient Ethiopia.
The Deputy Prime Minister called on citizens to sustain the spirit of unity and commitment demonstrated through the campaign as the country continues advancing toward its broader Green Legacy goals.
Similarly, speakers of Ethiopia’s two federal houses have praised the Green Legacy Initiative (GLI) for advancing environmental restoration, sustainable economic growth, and national unity through collective action.
Speaker of the House of Peoples’ Representatives Tagesse Chafo said the initiative has evolved beyond a tree-planting campaign into a comprehensive national development strategy supporting environmental protection, agricultural transformation, and long-term economic progress.
Tagesse said the Green Legacy Initiative has become a key platform for promoting harmony between society and nature while encouraging citizens to take shared responsibility for protecting the environment. “The Green Legacy belongs to the people,” Tagesse said, underscoring the role of citizens in sustaining the initiative.
Speaker of the House of Federation Agegnehu Teshager described the Green Legacy Initiative as a national movement that brings Ethiopians together beyond ethnic, religious, and political differences.
He said the initiative represents a shared responsibility that connects present and future generations through environmental preservation and has gained international recognition as a model for community-driven climate action.
Agegnehu stressed that the success of the initiative depends not only on planting seedlings but also on ensuring their survival through proper care and protection to achieve lasting environmental benefits.
Both speakers said the Green Legacy Initiative reflects the spirit of ‘Medemer’ by promoting unity, collective responsibility, and joint efforts toward a common national objective.
Regarding the reaction on this milestone by international media outlets, there were expressions of admiration describing it as a landmark achievement and a powerful demonstration of Ethiopia’s commitment to combating climate change through large-scale reforestation, while highlighting the country's growing role in global environmental leadership.
The Korean Post described the initiative as a nationwide movement advancing environmental restoration and sustainable economic growth.
Regional media in the Horn of Africa also highlighted the scale of the campaign and the strong public participation behind it. Horn Diplomat described the initiative as the culmination of this year's Green Legacy season, which mobilized millions of participants nationwide as Ethiopia seeks to reinforce its position as one of Africa's largest reforestation programs.
Similarly, Aljazeera has emphasized the campaign's international significance, linking it to Ethiopia's expanding climate diplomacy and preparations to host COP32 in 2027.
TV BRICS highlighted the environmental and economic impact of the initiative, describing the Green Legacy Initiative as an important investment in Ethiopia's long-term sustainability.
"The Green Legacy initiative is designed to lay the foundation for long-term food security, improve agricultural productivity, and strengthen resilience to the impacts of climate change. Over time, each sapling has the potential to become part of extensive forest landscapes and contribute to the country's economic development," the outlet stated.
Likewise, Latin American news agency Prensa Latina, in its Spanish-language coverage, also underscored the historic significance of Ethiopia's nationwide tree-planting campaign, highlighting its unprecedented scale and environmental importance.
International coverage further reflected growing diplomatic support for the initiative. Reporting on activities held overseas, the Associated Press of Pakistan noted that Ethiopia's diplomatic missions were actively participating in the campaign. "The Ethiopian Embassy in Pakistan led a solidarity tree-planting campaign supporting Ethiopia's Green Legacy Initiative and its goal of planting 800 million seedlings in one day," the agency reported. Ethiopians across the country are preparing for a historic environmental campaign under the Green Legacy Initiative, with plans to plant 800 million seedlings in a single day," the outlet wrote.
The extensive international coverage presents the Green Legacy Initiative as a successful model for climate action, environmental restoration, and citizen mobilization, while recognizing Ethiopia's efforts to promote sustainable development and strengthen global cooperation in addressing climate change.
