On Thursday (31 July), Ethiopia launched an unprecedented national campaign to plant 700 million tree seedlings in a single day, as part of its Green Legacy Initiative aimed at reaching 7.5 billion seedlings by the end of 2025 and 50 billion by 2026.
By 6 a.m. local time, officials reported that 14.9 million people had planted 355 million saplings, including public servants, children, elders, diplomats, and foreign investors. Participation surged through the morning: by 1 p.m., over 517 million trees had been planted, about 74% of the daily target, across urban and rural areas.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed personally participated in planting events in Jimma and called on Ethiopians to unite behind the motto “Renewal Through Planting”. Public offices were closed nationwide to mobilise citizens, reflecting the campaign’s central role in both environmental strategy, grassroots initiatives and national unity.
In Ethiopia, the Green Legacy Initiative is positioned as both climate action and a tool for nation-building. Observers note its role in restoring degraded land, improving soil health, and enhancing biodiversity. However, sustainable impact depends on seedling survival and long-term maintenance.
Despite the campaign’s scale, experts have raised concerns about implementation. Forest ecologist Kitessa Hundera questioned how the nation could mobilise 35 million participants, each planting 20 seedlings, to hit the 700 million mark in one day. He also warned against poor site planning and the mixing of exotic and indigenous species, and noted the lack of published survival rates for past plantings.
While there is a level of scientific scrutiny, the initiative in Ethiopia is being closely followed by other governments and international organisations to see whether mass civic participation can put a stop to deforestation and bring about environmental restoration.
Source: commonspace.eu with Africa News and other agencies.
