Addis Ababa, July 25, 2026 (FMC) — Before rivers flow through valleys and cross borders, they begin with the landscapes that sustain them. When forests disappear, soils weaken, and ecosystems deteriorate, the consequences travel far beyond their points of origin.
In the Nile Basin, where millions of people depend on the river system, protecting nature has become inseparable from protecting lives and livelihoods.
Amid growing global climate pressures, Ethiopia has embarked on one of Africa’s largest environmental restoration efforts — the Green Legacy Initiative — turning millions of hectares of degraded landscapes into a foundation for climate resilience and ecosystem recovery.
The initiative reflects Ethiopia’s understanding that addressing climate challenges requires more than responding to their consequences. It requires restoring the natural systems that regulate water, protect soil and help communities withstand extreme weather events.
Climate change has placed unprecedented pressure on natural resources worldwide. Droughts, flash floods, land degradation and sediment accumulation in water bodies have become among the major threats affecting sustainable development and water management.
For the Nile Basin, where environmental changes in one part of the ecosystem can have wider regional implications, restoring degraded landscapes remains a critical part of building resilience.
Launched in 2019 under the initiative of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, the Green Legacy Initiative has evolved into a nationwide environmental movement extending far beyond tree planting. It represents a comprehensive restoration effort aimed at rebuilding forests, conserving natural resources and strengthening climate adaptation.
Driven by government commitment and broad public participation, the initiative has mobilized millions of Ethiopians around a shared environmental mission. Its progress has transformed Ethiopia’s restoration efforts into a globally recognized climate action program.
By the end of the 2017 Ethiopian fiscal year, more than 48 billion seedlings had been planted across the country. Among these, over 18.7 billion seedlings were planted within the Abay (Nile) Basin alone, accounting for about 40 percent of the total national planting effort.
These figures represent more than numbers. They reflect a long-term investment in the ecological systems that sustain rivers, communities and economies.
Building on these achievements, Ethiopia is advancing an even more ambitious phase of the Green Legacy Initiative. During this year’s rainy season, the country aims to plant more than 8 billion additional tree seedlings, pushing the total number of seedlings planted under the initiative beyond the 56 billion mark.
The country has also set a broader target of reaching 65 billion planted seedlings before hosting the 32nd United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP32) in 2027, reinforcing its commitment to global climate action and ecosystem restoration.
Forests act as nature’s protective shield. They slow surface runoff, allow rainwater to penetrate into the ground, strengthen water sources and reduce soil erosion. By holding soil in place, forests also help minimize sediment flows into rivers and protect water quality.
Through these environmental functions, Ethiopia’s restoration efforts in the Nile Basin contribute to reducing risks associated with flash floods, drought impacts and ecosystem degradation.
The benefits extend beyond Ethiopia’s borders. Restored landscapes in the upper reaches of the basin help create healthier ecosystems capable of supporting more stable water cycles and reducing environmental pressures that affect downstream countries.
Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative demonstrates that climate action can go beyond national boundaries.
By restoring nature, protecting watersheds and strengthening ecosystem resilience, the initiative presents environmental conservation as a shared responsibility and a pathway toward a more sustainable Nile Basin.
The green landscapes taking shape across Ethiopia are not only symbols of restoration; they represent a broader vision — a future where forests stand as guardians of rivers, ecosystems withstand climate pressures, and communities across the Nile Basin benefit from a more resilient environment.
By Mesafin Brlie