Ethiopia is preparing for a large-scale tree-planting campaign. On August 3, 2026, the country intends to plant 800 million seedlings in a single day as part of the Green Legacy initiative – a flagship environmental restoration program on the continent.
This ambitious event is part of a broader plan: over 8 billion seedlings are projected to be planted during the 2026 rainy season. Over seven years of program implementation, it has become a world leader in large-scale reforestation. The initiative's goals include increasing forest cover, restoring degraded lands, enhancing resilience to climate change, and supporting food security through improved soil and water resources.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed launched Green Legacy in June 2019 as a response to environmental degradation, deforestation, and the country's growing climate vulnerability. Since then, according to official data, over 48 billion seedlings have been planted. Ethiopia's long-term ambition is to reach 65 billion trees by 2027, by the time Addis Ababa hosts the 32nd UN Climate Change Conference (COP32).
The Prime Minister called on citizens to act under the slogan “Let’s Plant Hope,” reflecting the initiative's profound symbolism. Government agencies, schools, community organizations, international organizations, and the diplomatic corps will participate, demonstrating the national scale of mobilization.
Last year, a new milestone was set: on July 31, 2025, Ethiopians planted 714.7 million seedlings in 24 hours – a record the country now intends to surpass. This achievement has inspired neighboring countries, including Kenya and Uganda, to launch their own large-scale reforestation programs.
The Green Legacy initiative has already proven its effectiveness. The survival rate of planted seedlings has reached 84 percent, and the program has contributed to the sequestration of approximately 297 million tons of carbon dioxide. By restoring watersheds, conserving biodiversity, and implementing agroforestry, the initiative has already expanded Ethiopia's forest cover from approximately 17 to 23.6 percent – an unprecedented result for such a short period.
The program has aided the development of climate-resilient agriculture and created new employment opportunities for millions of citizens in seedling cultivation, nursery management, and environmental services. Furthermore, over ten new varieties of fruit trees – including tomatoes, cocoa, and macadamia – have been introduced to support food security and export potential.
Millions of volunteers across the country are preparing to join the August event, which reaffirms Ethiopia's commitment to environmental restoration and positions the country as a global leader in climate action – an example inspiring other nations towards mass sustainable development initiatives.
