Ethiopia Plants 700 Million Trees in a Single Day in Ambitious Environmental Drive
Addis Ababa, August 1, 2025
In a bold move to combat deforestation and climate change, Ethiopia today undertook one of the world’s largest environmental efforts by planting 700 million trees in a single day. The massive tree-planting campaign is part of the country’s Green Legacy programme, a flagship initiative aimed at planting 50 billion trees by the year 2026.
With a population of approximately 133 million, Ethiopia has been rallying citizens, government agencies, schools, and private organisations to participate in the national greening campaign. The programme is a response to years of environmental degradation and recurrent droughts affecting food security and livelihoods across the Horn of Africa.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who launched the Green Legacy initiative in 2019, has championed the campaign as a strategic effort to build climate resilience, restore ecosystems, and promote sustainable development.
“This is not just about planting trees, it’s about securing our future,” said a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office. “Every seedling planted is a step towards a greener, more sustainable Ethiopia.”
The effort drew international praise and renewed attention to Africa’s climate adaptation strategies, with environmental experts noting that reforestation at this scale could significantly contribute to carbon sequestration and biodiversity restoration.
As Ethiopia pushes forward to meet its 50-billion-tree target by 2026, the Green Legacy continues to serve as a model for large-scale citizen-driven environmental action on the African continent.
