Ethiopia increases forest cover through mass tree planting initiative

Ethiopian citizens and institutions have participated in the Green Legacy Initiative, a national campaign to restore degraded landscapes and combat climate change.

Since the government launched the program in 2019, millions of people from schools, communities, and the private sector have joined annual planting campaigns. This collective effort has resulted in the planting of more than 56 billion seedlings to create forests that can absorb carbon, protect biodiversity, and stabilize soil.

The initiative has directly impacted the country's geography by increasing forest cover from 17.2 percent in 2019 to 23.6 percent in 2023. The project aims to improve water resources and agricultural productivity by restoring watersheds and providing fruit trees for food security. The government views these efforts as a way to link environmental protection with human development and economic activity. Ethiopia is now sharing its experience with other African nations through the Plant Africa Fraternity Initiative.

This program involves youth exchanges in countries like Zimbabwe, Ghana, and Nigeria to share knowledge on land restoration. While the project maintains a homegrown focus, it also works with international partners like the United Nations Environment Programme and the Global Environment Facility to support smallholder farmers. Ethiopia plans to use this experience when it hosts COP32 in 2027.