Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Leads Ethiopia’s Record-Breaking Campaign to Plant 800 Million Trees in One Day

Millions of Ethiopians joined forces on August 4 in an unprecedented environmental effort, aiming to plant a record 800 million tree seedlings across the country in a single day. This massive mobilization is the centerpiece of the Green Legacy Initiative, a flagship program launched in 2019 by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. The nationwide campaign seeks to transform Ethiopia’s landscape by tackling the urgent challenges of deforestation and climate change through collective national action and grassroots involvement.

The single-day event saw widespread participation from all sectors of society, including government officials, foreign nationals, and students. Among the volunteers was 13-year-old Edilawit Legesse, who marked her third year participating in the initiative, expressing her excitement for the growing momentum of the project. Her enthusiasm reflects a burgeoning environmental consciousness among the younger generation, which the government views as vital for the program's long-term success. This day-long surge contributes to a larger seasonal target of planting over 8 billion seedlings during the current rainy season, demonstrating the immense scale of Ethiopia's reforestation ambitions.

Beyond the immediate goal of increasing forest cover, the Green Legacy Initiative is integrated into Ethiopia’s broader socio-economic strategy. By restoring degraded landscapes and promoting climate resilience, the government aims to build a sustainable foundation for the country's aspiration to become a greener, lower-middle-income economy. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has consistently highlighted the campaign as a unifying national effort, bringing the nation together under a common goal of environmental stewardship and sustainable development for future generations.