Addis Ababa, June 16, 2026 (FMC) – Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Program has expanded forest cover to 11.2 million hectares over the past seven years, Minister of Agriculture Addisu Arega said.
Speaking at the 2026 Green Legacy planting season launch in Bishoftu, held under the theme “Let Us Plant Hope,” the Minister said the initiative has grown into a defining national effort linking environmental restoration with development priorities since its launch in 2019.
He said this year’s campaign was officially inaugurated by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) at Lake Harsade, with a target of planting eight billion seedlings as Ethiopia continues toward its broader goal of 65 billion trees.
Addisu described the program as a collective national achievement driven by sustained public participation over the past seven years.
He said the initiative has consistently mobilized an average of 25 million participants annually, reflecting its deep national reach and community ownership.
The Minister noted that the structure of planting efforts reflects an integrated land-use approach, with 60 percent of seedlings supporting agroforestry and mixed farming systems, and 35 percent dedicated to forest development.
He said the program has delivered tangible environmental outcomes, including expanded forest coverage and improved watershed protection.
Addisu also pointed to significant progress in soil conservation, noting that annual soil loss into rivers has declined from about 2 billion tons to 208 million tons due to sustained rehabilitation efforts.
He added that improved soil fertility, rising agricultural productivity, and the restoration of degraded water bodies have become key outcomes of the program.
According to the Minister, the Green Legacy Program is increasingly contributing to Ethiopia’s green economy ambitions by linking environmental recovery with long-term productivity and climate resilience.
Launched in 2019, the initiative has become one of Ethiopia’s largest national environmental mobilization efforts, combining large-scale afforestation with ecosystem restoration and sustainable land management.