Government reports nearly 160 million trees already planted nationwide

Addis Ababa, August 23, 2024 (FBC) – According to a recent update from the State Minister for the Government Communication Service, Selamawit Kassa, Ethiopia’s national tree planting initiative is making significant progress with widespread involvement from citizens across the country.

The initiative has seen participation from a diverse range of individuals, including government officials, religious leaders, members of the diplomatic community in Addis Ababa, and representatives from international organizations, all contributing to tree planting efforts.

During her briefing, Selamawit announced that over 157 million trees of various species have already been planted in different regions, encompassing urban and rural areas. A comprehensive approach has been taken over the past year, encompassing seedling preparation, selection of suitable planting locations, and public awareness campaigns to ensure the success of the national planting drive.

To facilitate better coordination of the campaign, the government has established the National Technical Programs Committee, which Selamawit highlighted as a key step in managing the initiative effectively.

Adefris Worku, chairperson of the committee, noted that Ethiopia faces significant land degradation challenges due to deforestation and resource mismanagement, which have led to issues such as flooding and drought. This situation prompted the government to create the Green Legacy Initiative.

Adefris emphasized that the initiative plays a crucial role in tackling the country’s environmental challenges by enhancing forest coverage, promoting soil and water conservation, and restoring ecosystems. He added that this year’s tree planting efforts aim to establish new forests in an additional 2 million hectares of land.

To ensure accuracy in monitoring, 1 million hectares of the planting sites have been geo-located using satellite imagery across 8,454 locations nationwide.