Preparations for Overnight’s Green Legacy Planting Are in Full Swing, Says Committee

Addis Ababa: The National Green Legacy Initiative Technical Committee announced that preparations have been already completed for this year's nationwide overnight tree seedlings program, scheduled for August 23, 2024.Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed called on Friday Ethiopians to make history by planting 600 million tree seedlings and break their own previous planting record.Emphasizing the significance of the initiative, he urged adults to plant over 20 saplings each and teenagers to contribute by planting more than 10."Let us show our love for our motherland and our commitment to the future generations," the Prime Minister stated.Getachew Gizaw, Deputy Chairman of the National Green Legacy Initiative Technical Committee, told ENA that meticulous preparations have been undertaken to succeed a 600-million tree seedlings program in a day.Detailed assessments have been conducted to identify optimal planting locations, the types of saplings required, and the quantities needed.A strategic approach combining food production and reforestation has been adopted, with a focus on mixed agriculture, the Deputy Chairman indicated.Getachew further emphasized that committee has meticulously mapped out planting areas down to the sub-basin level, and data management systems have been established to ensure accurate record-keeping.He also stressed the importance of widespread participation, calling on all Ethiopians to actively contribute to the nation's massive overnight tree planting campaign.As the nation gears up for this monumental undertaking, there is a palpable sense of anticipation and unity as Ethiopians come together to create a greener future.Recalled that the 2022/2023 overnight Green Legacy programs, over 566 million saplings have planted, which laid the groundwork for restoring Ethiopia's forests and safeguarding water resources.Ethiopia has diligently pursued an annual tree planting program under the Green Legacy Initiative, initiated by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed during the past five years.To this effect, by 2023, Ethiopia's forest cover had increased to 23.6 percent from 17.2 percent in 2019.Source: Ethiopian News Agency