Ethiopia's ambitious Green Legacy initiative has achieved a significant milestone, with more than 40 billion tree seedlings planted nationwide over the past six years.
This large-scale reforestation effort, a cornerstone of the government's drive for environmental sustainability, food security, and climate action, has also reported encouraging survival rates.
Historical data shared by State Minister of Agriculture, Professor Eyasu Elias, indicates that approximately 80 percent of the trees planted since the campaign's inception have successfully taken root and survived.
Furthermore, the initiative has placed a strong emphasis on integrating food production with reforestation, with 60 percent of the past plantings comprising fruit and fodder species.
Building on this momentum, the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) has announced preparations for this year's campaign, with 7.3 billion tree seedlings already ready. Professor Eyasu stated that the country aims to plant a total of 7.5 billion seedlings this year.
Continuing the focus on beneficial species, 60 percent of the seedlings prepared for the current campaign are fruit-bearing varieties, further reinforcing the link between environmental efforts and enhancing national food security.
The State Minister reiterated the government's commitment to ensuring the long-term success of the Green Legacy program, stating that measures will be implemented to support the growth and impact of this year's plantings, FBC reported.