Some 234 million seedlings planted in less than 6 hours – GCS

Addis Ababa, August 23, 2024 (FBC) – The FDRE Communication Service disclosed that some 234 tree seedlings have been planted so far today throughout Ethiopia under the one-day national planting day campaign.

National Planting Day” campaign is being undertaken nationwide under the overarching theme “A Nation Plants, the Generation Sustains” and aims to plant 0ver 600 million tree seedlings throughout Ethiopia.

Highlighting the progress of the one-day national tree planting campaign from the Situation Romm, Minister of State for Government Communication Service, Selamawit Kassa, stated that a total of 11 million citizens actively participated in the nationwide effort, resulting in the successful planting of 234 million tree seedlings across 93,000 hectares of land until 5:30 local time (11:30 am).

She noted that more than 2,000 media professionals have been deployed throughout Ethiopia to cover the one-day Green Legacy planting campaign.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed personally joined the campaign by traveling to Assosa city, the capital of the Benishangul-Gumuz regional state. This historic event, which took place in a region renowned for its natural abundance, mineral wealth, and fertile lands, brought together various stakeholders to promote sustainable forestry practices and combat climate change in Ethiopia.

Following his participation in the campaign, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed expressed his enthusiasm for the collective efforts of the Ethiopian people in achieving remarkable milestones under the Green Legacy program.

He confirmed that with the successful conclusion of today’s event, Ethiopia will have planted 40 billion seedlings since the inception of the Green Legacy initiative, showcasing the country’s unwavering commitment to environmental sustainability and ecological restoration.

In a testament to the government’s dedication to environmental sustainability and food security, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed revealed that half of the seedlings planted in the past year were specifically focused on addressing issues related to food security, soil conservation, and combating land degradation in Ethiopia. This strategic approach underscores the government’s commitment to balancing environmental conservation with the country’s development endeavors.

Furthermore, the Prime Minister emphasized the importance of continued tree planting efforts in areas like the Abay River Basin to support water conservation initiatives. By doing so, Ethiopia can further enhance its capacity to adapt to the challenges posed by climate change while also promoting sustainable development.

Furthermore, Ethiopia aims to plant a total of 7.5 billion tree seedlings during this year’s Green Legacy planting cycle, which would bring the total number of tree seedlings planted since the inception of the initiative in 2019 to 40 billion.