In a remarkable act of national unity, the staff of the  Policy Studies Institute(PSI) including other  institutes accounatble for the Ministry of Planning and Development participated in the historic action of planting 600 million trees across Ethiopia on August 23, 2024.

The staff of  PSI and the  Ministry of Planning and Development participated in the program and planted saplings together in Jogo Gudedo, Lome District, East Showa Zone. This mass mobilization underscores the country's unwavering commitment to the National Green Legacy Initiative, a nationwide reforestation program launched by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in 2019.

Thanks to this program, Ethiopia has made remarkable progress over the past five years, increasing its forest cover from 17.2% in 2019 to an impressive 23.6% in 2023. During this period, the country has planted an astonishing 32.5 billion tree seedlings, with a further 7.5 billion expected to be added in the current rainy season. This will bring the total number of seedlings planted so far to 40 billion.

On August 23, 2024, millions of Ethiopians from all over the country will set out early in the morning to break their own planting record and put 600 million new seedlings in the ground. This major tree planting campaign is the latest chapter of the National Green Legacy Initiative to mitigate climate change and combat food insecurity.

The National Tree Planting Program, which took place on August 23, 2024 at Jogo Gudedo in Lome District in East Showa Zone, saw officials and staff of the Ministry of Planning and Development and institutions under the Ministry participating in the program themed "Planting a land that feeds a generation".

The Minister of Planning and Development, H.E. Dr. Fitsum Asefa, who attended the program, said that the solution to the development of agriculture, which is the backbone of Ethiopia's economy, and to ensure the continuity of food security and prevent the damage caused by climate, the Green Legacy Initiative program should continue to be the culture of the community.

 H.E. Dr. Fitsum Asefa, Minister of Ministry of Planning and Developemnt 

The Minister said: “We are not just only defending the sovereignty of our country through fighting, the crunching of bones and the spilling of blood. No, we defend the sovereignty of our country through tireless labor until our own blood is shed in service.” H.E. Dr. Fitsum Asefa spoke these words with conviction. The Green Legacy Initiative program, she explained, will help hand over a better country to the next generation - not through the violent means of war, but through the steady, peaceful work of planting trees. H.E. Dr. Fitsum added that the Green Legacy Initiative has been a resounding success for the development and protection of Ethiopia's natural resources - a success not only for the economy but also in the fight against the ravages of climate change. To abandon this noble campaign would be to betray the hard-won sovereignty of our beloved homeland.

H.E. Prof. Beyene Petros, DG of PSI

H.E. Dr. Fitsum Asefa explained that the Green Legacy Initiative is making great achievements in the development and conservation of natural resources in relation to the economy and climate change. In addition to the tangible impact on forest cover and climate change mitigation, the Green Legacy Initiative also emphasizes the importance of an environmentally conscious, intergenerational mindset. By combining long-term environmental planning with nurturing human relationships and compassion, Ethiopia can empower its youth to effect positive change and create a more peaceful, caring and sustainable world for all.

Speaking at the national tree planting ceremony, H.E. Professor Beyene Petros, the Director General of the Policy Studies Institute, said that the Green Legacy Initiative program is part of saving our country from climate change and therefore requires the participation of the entire society and all institutions so that everyone should be actively involved.

H.E. Professor Beyene emphasized that we should fulfill our historical responsibility as citizens by planting and nurturing saplings and building a green and protected country for future generations. Fifteen thousand saplings, including many edible and forestry saplings, are said to have been planted by the Ministry and its accountable institutions.In the 2016 financial year, the Ministry of Planning and Development together with the accountable institutions planted 5400 seedlings in Adama city and Lome district: 3000 seedlings in Sakota town: 1375 seedlings in Dredawa town: 1200 seedlings in Hawasa town and today 15,000 seedlings are being planted in East Showa zone in Lome district.

PSI learned that in 2023 alone, Ethiopia surpassed its target of planting 6.5 billion seedlings and mobilized citizens across the country to plant over 7.5 billion. This annual mass tree planting campaign has become a cultural tradition embraced by public institutions, private companies and individual citizens alike. Remarkably, over half (56%) of the seedlings planted are fruit trees and other multipurpose plants, underscoring the initiative's dual role in protecting the environment and increasing agricultural productivity.

The Ethiopian Green Legacy Initiative has interlinked goals such as rehabilitating degraded land, halting deforestation, increasing forest cover, mitigating climate change and contributing to global climate action. In line with the 2030 Agenda, this initiative has demonstrated Ethiopia's long-term commitment to environmental responsibility and climate resilience.

Looking to the future, Ethiopia has set even higher targets: 50 billion seedlings are to be planted by 2026 - as part of the overarching goals of Green Legacy. This concerted, nationwide effort is a testament to Ethiopia's unwavering commitment to climate action and building a more sustainable, food-secure future for its people.

In general, the participation of government representatives from the Ministry of Planning and Development and the Policy Studies Institute is a clear indication of the whole-of-government approach that is driving Ethiopia's National Green Legacy Initiative. With millions of citizens participating in the effort and a goal of planting 50 billion trees by 2026, Ethiopia is positioning itself as a global leader in the fight against climate change through large-scale, community-based reforestation. As the saplings take root across the country, they will not only increase Ethiopia's forest cover, but also improve food security, create green jobs and provide lasting environmental benefits for future generations.