Addis Ababa, July 31, 2025 (FMC) — President Taye Atske-Selassie has celebrated Ethiopia’s achievement of planting 714.7 million tree seedlings in just 12 hours, calling it a “great reward to nature” and a meaningful act to sustain life for generations to come.
In a message shared on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), the President described the milestone as “a thoughtful and honorable act to sustain life for generations to come.”
“Delighted to observe that our country Ethiopia set a new example by planting 714.7 million seedlings in one day! Keep on planting! It is to the Earth,” he said, referring to the nationwide tree-planting campaign held on July 31, 2025, from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
The massive one-day nationwide campaign involved nearly 29.7 million people from all walks of life across Ethiopia, including elders, youth, children, toddlers, politicians, senior officials, religious leaders, teachers, healthcare workers, and members of security agencies.
The effort also included participation from foreign investors, diplomats, and development partners.
The initiative covered 13,084 sites spanning 294,000 hectares of land, reflecting broad national commitment and coordination.
This record-breaking planting drive is part of Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative, aimed at restoring degraded landscapes and combating climate change through large-scale reforestation.
President Taye’s remarks underscored the symbolic and environmental significance of the effort, highlighting Ethiopia’s leadership in sustainability and its moral responsibility to future generations.
Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative, launched six years ago, has consistently demonstrated remarkable progress in large-scale tree planting as part of the country’s climate resilience and environmental restoration goals. This year’s planting campaign, which aims to sow 7.5 billion seedlings during the rainy season, is nearing a cumulative total of six billion seedlings planted nationwide, underscoring the sustained commitment of Ethiopians.
Looking ahead, the initiative targets planting more than 54 billion seedlings by the end of next year’s campaign, reflecting Ethiopia’s ambitious vision to restore degraded landscapes and contribute significantly to global climate action.