Ethiopia's Green Legacy Initiative: A Model for Regional Environmental Cooperation

Strategic Insights -

Ethiopia's Green Legacy Initiative, launched seven years ago, has made significant strides in environmental protection by planting over 40 billion seedlings, significantly contributing to increased forest coverage, land restoration, climate change mitigation, ecosystem conservation, and job creation. The initiative aims to plant 50 billion trees across the country, with a focus on regions around major river basins like the Abbay River. The program's CEO, Aberu Tena, has announced that Ethiopia is willing to share tree seedlings with neighboring countries, including Djibouti and Somalia, to promote multilateral cooperation in environmental protection.

Key Takeaways:

  • Ethiopia's Green Legacy Initiative aims to plant 50 billion trees across the country, with over 40 billion seedlings already planted.
  • The initiative has significantly contributed to increased forest coverage, land restoration, climate change mitigation, ecosystem conservation, and job creation.
  • Ethiopia is willing to share tree seedlings with neighboring countries, including Djibouti and Somalia, to promote multilateral cooperation in environmental protection.
  • The program has model seedling production centers in Dire Dawa and the Somali State.
  • Over 30 percent of the 40 billion trees planted so far are located within the Abbay River basin.
  • The tree plantings in the Amhara, Oromia, and Benishangul-Gumuz regions are concentrated around major river basins like the Abbay River.
  • Ethiopia has prepared 7.5 billion seedlings for planting this year alone.
  • The program aims to restore millions of hectares of degraded land, reduce carbon emissions, and plant billions more seedlings.
  • More than 33.6 million hectares of land have been restored out of an estimated 54 million hectares of degraded land.

Statistics:

  • 40 billion seedlings planted to date.
  • 7.5 billion seedlings prepared for planting this year alone.
  • 30 percent of the 40 billion trees planted so far are located within the Abbay River basin.
  • 33.6 million hectares of land restored out of an estimated 54 million hectares of degraded land.
  • 745,000 hectares with geo-location data to be covered in a massive overnight tree-planting event on 27 July 2025.

Sources:

  • The Ethiopian Herald, "Ethiopia Commits to Supporting Environmental Protection Efforts in the Region."
  • World Vision Ethiopia, " Ethiopia Committed to Building a Climate-Resilient Economy."