BY STAFF REPORTER
Three years have already elapsed since Ethiopia launched an annual Green Legacy Initiative with the aim to plant 20 billion tree seedlings within a period of four years so as to combat the negative effects of climate change and deforestation in Ethiopia, thereby contribute its share in global efforts exerted to combat climate change as well as its destructive effects.
As a result, over the past three years, the country has mobilized millions of people, and managed to plant billions of seedlings across the country surpassing the annual targets set for each consecutive year.
As studies indicate, in the first three campaigns, the country has enabled to actively involve the society and plant over 18 billion seedlings throughout the country, almost reaching closer to achieve the target set to accomplish in four rounds.
Recently, the nation has lunched the fourth round annual trees planting campaign – Green Legacy Initiative 2022, with a target of planting six billion seedlings.
“Today, we launched the 4th round Green Legacy planting season. Caring for the nation involves the protection of our citizens, just as caring for the land that sustains us involves endeavors like our Green Legacy initiative,” twitted Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed while launching the annual Green Legacy Campaign for 2022.
The Premier went on saying: “We are laying our foundation for multidimensional prosperity by leaving a climate smart generational legacy, during this rainy season.”
And following the launching of the program, Ethiopians, regardless of any difference, are taking part actively and planting seedlings committedly.
As Amhara State Agriculture Bureau stated recently, the State setting a goal to plant 250 million saplings in one day, it has enabled to successfully plant over 263 million seedlings in a single day.
As Bureau’s Natural Resource Development Conservation and Utilization Representative Director, Esmelealem Mihret told ENA, at the program, over 4.8 million people took part and saplings that cover 28 thousand hectares of land were planted. Out of which, close to two million seedlings are said various fruit trees that have greater economic value.
He also called on the community to take care of the planted saplings with the sense of ownership.
Speaking at the program, State’s Agriculture Bureau Head Hailemariam Kefeyalew said that understanding the multifaceted benefits of planting saplings to the economy, activities are ongoing in all areas of the State regarding to seedling plantations.
“Today’s seedling planting program has proved us that there would not be a plan that we fail to accomplish,” the Head remarked. Sapling planting will further strengthen and continue, he also announced.
State’s Deputy President Getachew Jenber on his part said that the Green Legacy program, which is part of nation’s natural resource conservation, is playing significant role in preventing soil erosion and preserving water resources.
Likewise, Oromia State Agriculture Bureau has announced that following nation’s Green Legacy Initiative 2022; over 448 million seedlings were planted in 12 hours.
The program was launched by State’s President Shimeles Abdissa in Lome Woreda, East Shewa Zone of Oromia State, it was learned.
As the Bureau reported, setting a target to plant 400 million trees in an overnight, it was enabled to manage the plantation of 448,622, 319 saplings. The planting program was carried out in 20 zones and 19 towns situated in the State.
It was indicated that at the trees planting program carried out in Lome Woreda, State’s President Shimeles has managed to plant 300 seedlings,
For this year’s trees planting campaign, more than seven billion seedlings have been prepared. About 52 percent of the total seedlings are for agroforestry trees while forestry trees account for 42 percent and the remaining are ornamental trees, it was learnt.
This year’s trees planting campaign is the final year of the four years green legacy initiative; which the nation commenced it in 2019 with an ambition to curb the effects of climate change and deforestation in Ethiopia.
It is to be recalled that Ethiopia’s National Green Legacy Campaign was initiated by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in 2019 with a view to combating climate change and deforestation in Ethiopia.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD TUESDAY 26 JULY 2022
