Addis Ababa, November 11, 2026 (FMC) – Having planted approximately 56.8 billion tree seedlings by the conclusion of its 2026 planting campaign, Ethiopia continues to demonstrate how collective commitment can turn environmental restoration into a nationwide movement, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has emphasized at the COP31 Leaders’ Summit in Antalya, Türkiye.
Addressing the global gathering under the theme “Towards a Sustainable, Resilient and Equitable Future,” the Prime Minister presented the Green Legacy Initiative as an expression of Ethiopia’s approach to climate action, stressing that its significance extends beyond the number of seedlings planted to the people, communities and institutions mobilized around a shared responsibility for nature.
The country has moved beyond its original 50-billion-seedling target, with the 2026 campaign adding further momentum to the programme.
The scale of public participation was particularly evident on August 3, 2026, when Ethiopia planted 805.3 million seedlings in a single day, setting a new national planting record. Citizens, farmers, young people, institutions and communities took part, reinforcing the collective character of the initiative.
As Prime Minister Abiy noted in his COP31 address, planting has increasingly become a family habit in Ethiopia.
This shift from an annual campaign to a shared social responsibility reflects the initiative’s deeper purpose: environmental restoration requires sustained public participation and continued care for the trees planted.
The Green Legacy is also a broader land-restoration effort, encompassing the rehabilitation of degraded areas, expansion of forest cover, protection of watersheds and conservation of soil.
Its diverse benefits extend to biodiversity, water security, agricultural productivity, food security and livelihoods, making the restoration of nature an integral part of the country’s development priorities.
Ethiopia’s national figures show forest cover rising from 17.2 percent in 2019 to 23.6 percent in 2023.
The planting programme has also diversified beyond conventional forest trees to include fruit-bearing and multipurpose species such as avocado, mango, papaya, apple and coffee, connecting ecological restoration with food production and income-generating opportunities.
The Prime Minister’s remarks at COP31 further placed the initiative within Ethiopia’s wider climate experience. He noted that changing rainfall patterns threaten forests and agricultural production, including the coffee-growing landscapes associated with Ethiopia’s contribution to the world.
His message underscored the close relationship between protecting ecosystems, sustaining livelihoods and responding to climate risks.
The initiative is meanwhile extending beyond Ethiopia’s borders. Through the Plant Africa Fraternity Initiative, Ethiopian youths have been deployed to Zimbabwe, Ghana and Nigeria to share the country’s experience in environmental conservation, afforestation and tree planting.
Ethiopia has also extended similar activities to Pakistan and supplied multipurpose seedlings to neighbouring Djibouti, giving the Green Legacy an expanding regional and international dimension.
Looking ahead, Ethiopia is targeting 65 billion seedlings by 2027, as it prepares to host COP32 in Addis Ababa. The country is positioning the initiative as one of its practical contributions to global climate action, offering an experience built on large-scale public participation, ecosystem restoration and the integration of environmental protection with development.
As Ethiopia prepares to welcome the international community, COP32 will provide an opportunity to share this experience and advance cooperation on restoring degraded ecosystems, strengthening climate resilience and translating global commitments into concrete action.
The central message of the Prime Minister’s address is that restoring nature is a collective undertaking. Governments and institutions can establish the direction, but lasting results depend on citizens, families and communities making environmental stewardship part of everyday life.