Ethiopia has taken a bold step in its climate and environmental efforts by announcing the planting of 700 million tree seedlings in a single day, as part of its ambitious Green Legacy Initiative.
The nationwide campaign, launched in 2019 by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, aims to tackle deforestation, soil erosion, and the growing impacts of climate change.
During the planting exercise, millions of Ethiopians, from schoolchildren to civil servants, gathered across cities, towns, and rural communities to take part in the massive tree planting event.
In the capital, Addis Ababa, volunteers came out at sunrise to plant seedlings in parks, residential areas, and open lands.
Government offices were closed to allow broad participation in what has become one of Africa’s most ambitious grassroots climate actions.
By early morning, officials reported that nearly 15 million people had already planted more than 355 million seedlings—nearly halfway to the day’s target—although independent confirmation of these figures remains pending.
“This is Ethiopia. Think big, dream big,” Prime Minister Abiy said during the ceremony. “It is an example for us and others that it can unite people and achieve great things.”
The Green Legacy Initiative began as a government programme but has since grown into a nationwide movement, drawing millions of participants annually. At the heart of this effort is a belief in nature-based solutions that are locally driven and culturally rooted.
Tesfaye Beljige, a member of the House of Peoples’ Representatives, described the campaign as more than symbolic. “It supports food security, sustainable development, biodiversity conservation, and harmony between people and nature,” he said.
Ethiopia’s forest cover has drastically declined over the past century. This loss has made communities more vulnerable to floods, droughts, and poor agricultural yields. Tree planting, experts say, is one of the most accessible and cost-effective ways to restore degraded land and build climate resilience.
Environmental advocates also stress the importance of maintaining and protecting the trees after planting. Community-led monitoring, water access, and sustainable land management will be key to ensuring that the trees survive and thrive in the long term.
By turning a national planting day into a collective act of hope and resilience, Ethiopia is showing how large-scale environmental action can start with local hands and a shared purpose.
