Ethiopia's Green Legacy: Citizens Lead Reforestation Drive

Ethiopia is witnessing a significant shift from deforestation to forestation, driven by citizen-led initiatives like the Green Legacy Initiative (GLI). Halima Kedir, initially met with doubt, has become an emblem of this movement, inspiring her community in Oromia's Berbere district by planting thousands of trees. Her dedication highlights the national effort to combat climate change and food insecurity.

The GLI, introduced in 2019, has accelerated reforestation, with the government claiming to have planted 48 billion trees. This initiative has demonstrably slowed the rate of deforestation, which had previously resulted in the loss of 560,000 hectares of forest cover by 2025. Forest coverage has risen to 23.6% from 15.5% between 2013 and 2023.

Despite challenges like severe water shortages, communities are actively participating, distributing tens of thousands of indigenous tree seedlings with organizations like WaterAid Ethiopia reporting high survival rates. While some skepticism exists regarding reported success rates, the initiative has fostered a crucial change in national mindset towards environmental awareness and restoration.

Ethiopia's commitment extends to national funding, with a dedicated special fund allocated to landscape restoration. The nation's progress has earned it the privilege of hosting the 32nd UN climate summit (Cop32) in Addis Ababa in November 2027, underscoring its role as a leading African nation in green energy and climate action.