Ethiopia’s reforestation project aims to plant 7.5 billion trees in 2025 alone. It’s improving green cover and offers other benefits. But what about aftercare?

Addis Ababa

Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative, launched in 2019, has resulted in the planting of 32 billion trees over five years, aiming to restore degraded landscapes and address climate change. The effort has involved large-scale community participation, with volunteers planting trees to prevent soil erosion, improve wildlife habitats, and make the environment greener. 

The initiative has also spurred economic benefits, with plant nurseries providing stable employment, especially for young people, and supporting food security through the cultivation of fruit trees. While survival rates of planted trees vary, ongoing community involvement and aftercare are helping to ensure the program’s long-term success.

Ethiopia’s green legacy initiative helps forests to recover

It almost looks like a religious pilgrimage, but the crowds are heading up Alamura mountain for a different reason. These people are taking part in a massive reforestation effort. The region has experienced deforestation and erosion. Now with the rainy season just around the corner, conditions are ideal for planting trees. The volunteers are contributing to the Green Legacy Initiative, a nationwide program launched in 2019. Its goal? To restore degraded landscapes and combat climate change. Our village often experiences floods and soil erosion. Sometimes the floods are so severe that they even wash away the new trees, but the ones we planted recently on the terraces are growing well. Across Ethiopia, 32 billion trees have been planted in 5 years. Mature trees prevent soil erosion and stop the land drying out, as well as providing a habitat for wildlife. This area used to be a plain and hilly landscape with no trees. Since the campaign began, the environment has become greener and birds are returning. The initiative has helped raise awareness of the importance of trees and led to new businesses too. Plant nurseries are booming. They help create jobs with a stable income, especially for young people. I had no money to support my parents who were sick. I had to drop out of school due to financial problems too. Now since getting a job at a nursery, I can support my parents and continue my education. Once mature enough, the supplements go to government institutions, NGOs and private customers. We mainly grow fruit trees including avocado, papaya and mango. In addition to their importance for protecting the climate, the trees are also used for food when they grow. The avocado tree varieties are specially selected and are suitable for the local climate. In this nursery, 20 unemployed workers have been given permanent jobs and 70 to 80 other workers have been given temporary jobs. In 2025, the Green Legacy Initiative is once again on track to achieve its reforestation goals. Trees are vital in the fight against climate change. They store CO2 and help cool the atmosphere by providing shade and releasing water vapor into the air. The survival rate of the supplements varies. While some studies report rates just above 50%, official figures claim an overall success of 80 to 90%. Planting in suitable locations and ensuring proper aftercare are key. The village administration and the local community are working together to hire people to protect the young supplements. My friends and I have also found employment by caring for the trees and protecting them from damage caused by people and domestic animals. The scale of the campaign is certainly remarkable. It's an investment in Ethiopia's future that aims to improve the climate in the region and raise awareness of the importance of trees. The initiative is creating jobs and boosting food security, and bringing the whole community together, one tree at a time.

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