This could be the best time to enjoy it if you are deeply attached with the hobby of walking. Everything seems getting greener and wet day by day. The air is so fresh it makes me want to inhale and save some of it for the dry season. I almost wished it could be possible.
I also wished that the whole upcoming New Year remains like this, fresh and wet with the good shower from the sky. But that would also cause damage on our seasonal agriculture. So, I take back my second wish.
Meanwhile, I never felt the beauty of Addis Ababa in the rainy season like this before. I think everybody feels it too. I hope everyone is seeing the signs that I see. I see the signs of forgiving and motherly nature of our land, as the whole Nation began embracing the new positive initiative. A positive initiative always gets the best rewards.
It is called the National Green Legacy Initiative and the signs are inspirations for the whole society in this country to keep its commitment for its realization. Yet, there is a long way to go.
Ethiopia’s Prime Minster Dr. Abiy Ahmed has launched this initiative few months ago putting himself on the front line as he continued planting tree seedlings with people from different walks of life.
The whole world has also witnessed when the Nation broke an international record by planting 350 million tree seedlings within 12 hours on 29 July 2019. The Country still has a plan to plant four billion tree seedlings before this year’s rainy season ends.
Well, so many have been talking about planting trees and taking good care of them to grow up is the key matter that everyone in this country should take seriously. It is observed that 38,000 tree seedlings were planted over the past two months in Simen National Park of the Amhara State. But the number could go higher by now. It was also a recent fact that the park has encountered certain damage from a fire outbreak, which took more than seven weeks to control.
However, the effort that has been exerted to recover the park through the Green Legacy Initiative could pay off as long as taking good care of the newly planted tree seedlings is given due attention.
The warm motivation and sense of ownership, which is being observed from many Ethiopians of all walks of life, even from that special dog that has taken part in planting seedlings, is commendable and exemplary. This is the good sign that I am seeing.
However, some of the tree seedlings could face difficulties of survival and my only guess for such situation to happen is that some tree seedlings may not be planted on the right place. There could be a probability that some tree seedling could not be planted on a type of soil that is hospitable for their species.
Taking such situations into account, I believe that all experts and actors on forestry should take caution about what type of seedlings are planted on what type of soil and weather condition during the remaining campaigns of forestation.
On the other hand, this Green Legacy Initiative could be a platform for Ethiopia and other developing countries to discharge their responsibilities and boost their bargaining power on the global negotiation concerning climate change. The initiative has already gained a big applause from the international community, which indicates that developed countries should play their role with financial and other significant supports.
However, some made up or intentionally negative stories like how an Ethiopian governmental organization head said his office was ordered to plant 10,000 tree seedlings but planted 5,000 and reported the full amount, will not certainly help the world.
It will not also affect the commitment of the people and its motivation towards achieving what they set out to do for the realization of this Initiative. What some opposing political parties officials say doubting the possibility of planting 350 million seedlings in 12 hours, will not be a major concern among Ethiopians, who still hold on to that sense of ownership.
I have watched people, who live in my neighborhood, taking good care of the seedlings that they have planted on their yards just like their own beloved children. And the seedlings seem to be on good condition.
Despite the little concerns like the one I mentioned about the seedlings not being planted on the right place, the time may not be that far when the world will witness the green Ethiopia again. But that is if the people keep the inspiration and momentum of the Initiative.
I also believe that such initiatives must continue every year but in a way that make it more profitable in line with combating climate change. For instance, there could be a possibility that the Government could identify degraded or deforested areas in mass and recover them with forests that would be lucrative for the economy.
It could be done by implementing more mega projects of forestry with huge investment from the government or private investor. Even though it could take time and capital, it is worth to invest on with the consideration that there are good signs.
The Ethiopian Herald August 17, 2019
BY HENOK TIBEBU
