Community Spirit Blooms Alongside Saplings

Addis Ababa, August 1, 2025 (ENA) -- Ethiopia has once again made history with a one-day national tree planting campaign on Thursday, during which over 714 million seedlings were planted as part of the Green Legacy Initiative. Numerous global and continental media outlets have provided extensive coverage of this remarkable achievement.

International media organizations, including The Washington Post, The Independent, Associated Press, Sputnik, Anadolu Agency, Star Tribune, LAS Vegas Sun, Africanews, and several others, reported that this single-day campaign is a component of Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative, an ambitious conservation effort aimed at planting 50 billion trees by 2026.

These media outlets have characterized the event in various ways, particularly regarding its benefits in addressing the challenges posed by climate change, the participation of the general public, and the international acclaim it has been receiving.  

The Associated Press (AP) highlighted the active engagement of the general public in Thursday's one-day planting initiative. Thousands of public servants, children, and government officials, including Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, have been deployed throughout the East African country to participate in planting seedlings.

 

AP also spoke with residents in Addis Ababa. Almaz Tadu, a 72-year-old grandmother, brought her grandchildren to a tree planting event, saying it reunites her with neighbors. “I have come with my mother, and this is my third time planting trees,” said 13-year-old student Nathenael Behailu. “I dream of seeing a green environment for my country.” Another Addis Ababa resident, Ayanaw Asrat, said he has heeded the call for the last three years. “I came early and I have so far planted 15 seedlings. I am very happy to contribute to creating greener areas across Addis,” he said. This extensive report by AP has been shared by several international media outlets.

East Leigh Voice – a Kenyan online news outlet and newspaper – praised the community effort to plant 700 million trees in a single day as part of the Green Legacy Initiative. This initiative is in line with Ethiopia's dedication to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, especially those focused on climate action and eradicating hunger, and aims to enhance resilience in a nation often impacted by drought and environmental decline.

 

The Africa News depicted the public mobilization witnessed in the Green Legacy Initiative.  The images of grandmothers and schoolchildren planting side by side offer a powerful vision of environmental stewardship - one that Ethiopia hopes will grow as steadily as the millions of saplings taking root across its landscapes. The country's ambitious tree-planting campaign not only seeks to combat climate change but also to cultivate a legacy of ecological responsibility for generations to come, the African News argued.

Business Insider Africa, for its part, lauded the Green Legacy Initiative of Ethiopia as it represents a significant step in the country's ongoing efforts to combat climate change, deforestation, and land degradation. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed initiated the project in 2019, and it has since expanded from a government-led program to a nationwide movement, with millions of civilians participating annually.

Planting Hope for Future Generations

The Weather Channel, from America, appreciated the participation of the general public in the campaign. The report said that in a powerful show of hope and environmental ambition. The bold reforestation effort is in service of the country's vision of a greener, more sustainable future.

Residents came together to plant millions of new trees in a single day, hoping to build a more climate-resilient future one seedling at a time. The project, called Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative, has been personally championed by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. He took to social media this week, encouraging citizens across the country to dig in. And they did. Residents were seen grabbing shovels and seedlings, ready to contribute to the nationwide push.

 

The Weather Channel quoted the prime minister as saying, “This is more than just tree planting. It is a call to action for every citizen, young and old, urban and rural, to take part in restoring our environment, protecting our water sources, improving livelihoods, and securing a sustainable future for generations to come.”

Excluding the seedlings being planted during this rainy season, the nation has far planted over 40 billion seedlings since 2019, with the ultimate goal of planting 50 billion trees by next year. With tools in hand and optimism in the air, Ethiopia is proving that even the most ambitious goals can take root when communities come together. Residents came together to plant millions of new trees in a single day, hoping to build a more climate-resilient future one seedling at a time, the report added.

International Acclamation  

Anadolu News Agency reported that the Green Legacy Initiative has drawn international attention for its scale, with diplomats and foreign leaders participating annually. In the last days, heads of state and delegates attending the UN Food Systems Summit joined tree-planting events. Participants included Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Kenyan President William Ruto and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

 

Xinhua, China News Agency, under its headline, Ethiopia's Green Legacy Initiative drives broader climate action, stated that Ethiopia is gaining momentum in its ecological restoration efforts. At the core of this drive is the Green Legacy Initiative, a homegrown tree-planting campaign launched in 2019 to address climate change, environmental degradation, and food security challenges at home and across the region.

The government credits the Green Legacy Initiative with strengthening food security, particularly through the planting of fruit trees that contribute to household income, nutrition, and community resilience. The United Nations (UN) also recognized the Initiative’s contribution to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2, targeting zero hunger, through planting high-value fruit trees that enhance food availability.

Ethiopia's Green Legacy Initiative also aligns with more global climate goals, including SDG 13, which urges urgent climate action. The UN has praised the initiative's "immense contribution" to adaptation efforts and its alignment with the Paris Agreement, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the African Union's Agenda 2063.

 

The Green Legacy Initiative is also inspiring regional action. Nigerian Vice President Kashim Shettima, who joined this year's tree-planting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's capital, hailed it as "an inclusive, impactful, and visionary model," urging African countries to follow Ethiopia's lead. Shettima also called the initiative a practical and inspiring response to the climate crisis, with wide-ranging benefits for land restoration, agricultural productivity, and job creation.

Experts and policymakers argue that through the Green Legacy Initiative, Ethiopia is demonstrating that large-scale, nationally-led climate action is both achievable and essential for securing a stable future in the Horn of Africa and beyond, according to Xinhua.