BY EPHREM ANDARGACHEW
With the thousands of seedlings obtained from the Ethiopian government Djiboutian environmental activist Fihima Mohammed is struggling to spread the Green Legacy Initiative in her home land. The Ethiopian Green Legacy initiative was launched in June 2019 aiming to curb the negative effects of climate change and deforestation in the country. The tree seedlings planting campaign, which took place from 2019 to 2022 during the main rainy kiremt seasons, had a target to plant a total of 20 billion seedlings. Nevertheless, the nation has been able to plant 25 billion tree seedlings over the past four years surpassing the target of 20 billion.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy said that “the 4 years since we launched Green Legacy has demonstrated to us that we are a people that can ideate, plan and accomplish.” “We planned to plant 20 billion tree seedlings and achieved 25 billion.” “Ours has been an inspiration for many throughout the world. We will continue building on our green culture.”
As Ethiopians, our lives are strongly intertwined with trees and forests. The green legacy initiative is designed to prevent flooding, food insecurity, environment-related conflicts, and other adverse effects. Hence, the green legacy has been implemented with the people who are truly committed to the initiative regardless of age, ethnicity, religion, sex, and so on, he added.
Indeed, the Ethiopian green legacy initiative hasn’t stopped in Ethiopia, it includes also neighboring countries. So far Djibouti is using the Green legacy initiative effectively which could be a model for other countries. Djibouti becomes the first country to apply the green legacy initiative and has planted tree seedlings accorded by the government of Ethiopia as part of the Green Legacy Initiative.
The initiative is imperative for Ethiopia to ensure food security by planting edible plants, fruits, and vegetables while it helps Djibouti not only to fight the negative impacts of climate change but also to beautify the city of Djibouti.
Once the Mayor of Djibouti City Fatouma Awaleh Osman said that the Green Legacy Initiative would enhance the efforts to create a climate change resilient environment in the region in addition to its positive impact to improve the image of the city. The Mayor also shows gratitude to the government of Ethiopia for providing seedlings noting that the two countries are desirous to further continue the implementation of the Green Legacy Initiative.
The initiative gets also advocators and environmental activists in Djibouti. As a result, Ethiopian Ambassador to Djibouti Ambassador Berhanu Tsegaye praises the Djiboutian advocate of Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative, Fihima Mohammed.
Ambassador Berhanu Tsegaye welcomed and praised Fihima for her unwavering commitment to promoting a green economy and the Green Legacy initiative spearheaded by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in Djibouti. Because Fihima has been instrumental in facilitating the planting of thousands of seedlings the Ethiopian government offered to Djibouti in two rounds over the past two years.
Ambassador Berhanu expressed the readiness of the Ethiopian government to support such vibrant young Djiboutians who are enthusiastic and committed to working on agriculture and green economic development through capacity building, scholarships, training, visits, etc. He also stressed the urgent need to establish a network of eco-responsible youth between the two countries to best synergize green economic integration. Ethiopian Agriculture Minister State Minister Sani Redi said that Djibouti has been the first country that joined Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative to receive tree Saplings. Every year Ethiopia has preparing tree seedlings for Green Legacy Initiative, out of which some tree seedlings have been allocated to Djibouti so as to expand Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative. Hence, Djibouti is using this opportunity wisely.
In fact, climate change is a regional and global threat, so it is imperative inviting other East African countries to follow Djibouti’s path in the fight against climate change challenges. Because Ethiopia, in 2021, has prepared to provide 91 million seedlings to South Sudan, 356 million to Sudan, 79 million to Eritrea, 9 million to Djibouti, 80 million to Somalia, 30 million to Somaliland, 100 million each to Kenya and Uganda, 19 million to Puntland, and 136 million to Rwanda.
However, among these countries, Djibouti is the only country that used the opportunity properly and effectively. The Ethiopian Embassy in Djibouti has completed its preparations to plant Fifty thousand seedlings in the 3rd round in Djibouti, Ambassador Berhanu said.
The Ethiopian Herald 25 September 2022
