Ethiopia launched this Monday, August 3, a nationwide campaign to plant 800 million tree seedlings in a single day as part of its Green Legacy Initiative aimed at restoring degraded landscapes and strengthening climate resilience.
Government Communication Service Minister Enatalem Melese said the campaign marks a major step in Ethiopia’s efforts to address land degradation, environmental depletion and the impacts of climate change.
Speaking at the launch ceremony, Melese said the initiative seeks to restore damaged ecosystems, protect water resources and improve livelihoods through collective national action. “Today is a special day when 800 million green seedlings touch the earth,” she said, describing the campaign as a demonstration of the country’s commitment to environmental restoration.
The one-day exercise forms part of Ethiopia’s broader target of planting 8 billion seedlings during the current rainy season. Melese urged citizens, institutions and development partners to work together in restoring degraded land and addressing environmental challenges.
The Green Legacy Initiative, launched by Ethiopia as a key environmental strategy, focuses on reforestation, watershed rehabilitation, biodiversity conservation and sustainable agriculture. The latest tree-planting campaign is expected to involve millions of people across Ethiopia’s regions, reinforcing the country’s push for large-scale climate and ecological restoration.