Addis Ababa, August 3, 2026 (FMC) — President Taye Atske-Selassie said Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative has set a global benchmark for collective environmental action, highlighting the country’s unprecedented nationwide mobilization for ecological restoration and sustainable development.
The President made the remarks after joining millions of Ethiopians participating in the nationwide one-day campaign to plant 800 million seedlings. He planted tree seedlings alongside staff members of the Office of the President at the Chaka Project in Addis Ababa.
Speaking on the occasion, President Taye said the Green Legacy Initiative, launched in 2019 under the leadership of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, has delivered significant environmental and developmental achievements, turning national aspirations into tangible results.
He noted that although Ethiopia is naturally endowed with forests, fertile land and rich biodiversity, the country had for years fallen short of fully protecting and developing those resources, resulting in the loss of natural wealth and increasing vulnerability to the impacts of climate change, including recurrent drought.
The President said the Green Legacy Initiative was conceived as one of the country’s major responses to reversing that trajectory through environmental restoration and sustained public participation.
He emphasized that the annual nationwide tree-planting campaign is an investment not only for the present generation but also for future generations, describing it as a lasting national legacy.
President Taye said Ethiopians are making history by planting billions of seedlings through sustained nationwide participation, adding that while some countries undertake similar initiatives, Ethiopia’s scale of collective tree planting remains unmatched.
He further noted that the Green Legacy Initiative is among the flagship national programs demonstrating that the country’s long-held development aspirations are increasingly being translated into concrete achievements.
The President also underscored that today’s campaign, which has mobilized millions of Ethiopians from all walks of life, reflects the country’s enduring commitment to environmental stewardship and building a more climate-resilient future.