Last year, Ethiopia had planted over four billion seedlings including a world record in a single day, where it planted over 350 million seedlings in one day across the country. This month, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (Dr.) announced that out of those four billion seedlings planted during last year’s green legacy campaign, 84 per cent have sprouted.
The Prime Minister recently announced plans to plant five billion seedlings during this rainy season, a continuation of the green legacy campaign of last year. To hit the five billion target this season, the government has officially launched the plantation campaign on the world Environment Day yesterday.
Dr. Abiy stated that “extensive care-taking works were undertaken throughout the country to cultivate the planted seedlings”, adding that “this is an indication that our efforts have borne fruit as we prepare diligently to commence the planting season this year.”
Dr. Abiy on his social media page pointed out that “on Friday June 5th, 2020 we are set to officially embark up on our annual green legacy challenge”. Last year we, each committed to the national call and met our strategy, Dr. Abiy noted adding that, “despite COVID-19, we are determined to plant the intended five billion trees”
He further called on all citizens to plant seedlings maintaining physical distance. Meanwhile, on Wednesday Ethiopia’s Environment, Forest and Climate Change Commissioner Professor Fekadu Beyene announced that Ethiopia is working to develop its forest coverage to 30 per cent in 10 years. Prof. Fekadu noted that currently Ethiopia’s forest coverage is limited to 15 per cent, including two meter bushes.
Unwise use and farmland expansion affects Ethiopia’s dense forest, but during recent years reforestation with annual seedling plantation is scoring big outcomes in reforestation, although not enough to replace the deforested area. He added that especially during the past five years, the seedling plantation campaigns are scoring good results.
The Commissioner told Walta Information Center that Ethiopia already finalized its preparation to plant five billion seedlings in this season which started on 28 May 2020 to plant according to every areas weather condition.
Prof. Fekadu further stated that Ethiopia has planned to plant five billion trees every year and to increase the forest coverage of the country from 15 per cent to 30 per cent during the coming 10 years.
This year’s five billion seedling plantation was started on 28 May 2020, during the World’s Environment Day, which was celebrated for the 47th times worldwide and for the 27th times in Ethiopia. The World Environment Day (World People’s Day) in Ethiopian level was celebrated in Hawassa City and the seedling plantation was officially launched in Hawassa City Yesterday.
For the achievement of this year’s target of planting five billion seedlings, regional states take their shares. Oromia State announced to plant 3.2 billion seedlings, Amhara State 1.75 billion including 205 million seedlings in a single day, Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR) 1.5 billion and Tigray Agriculture and Rural Development Bureau told The Ethiopian Herald soon to plant 120 million seedlings for this season. Other regional states and City administrations have also announced that they are finalizing preparations for the seedling campaign setting their respective target.
The Ethiopian herald June 6,2020
BY DARGIE KAHSAY
