A significant tree-planting campaign is set to involve millions of Ethiopians, as authorities aim to plant half a billion seedlings within a 12-hour period. However, ongoing violence in certain areas could potentially hinder widespread participation.
This initiative is part of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s “green legacy” project, which has already witnessed similar campaigns during the country’s main rainy seasons over the past four years.
Back in 2019, the government claimed that 350 million seedlings were planted in a single day, although this figure has not been independently verified. Authorities at the time stated that over 20 million individuals actively participated in the campaign.
Concerns have been raised by some regarding the accuracy and credibility of these reported numbers.
In a statement released on Sunday, Prime Minister Abiy said the objective this year is “to break [a] record”. But it’s not clear if the country is applying to get verification and recognition from the Guinness World Records.
According to Guinness, more than 50 million trees were planted in a single day in 2016 in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.
Ethiopia, once a densely forested country with 35% of its total land area covered in trees in the early 20th Century, saw that figure plummet to a little above 4% in the 2000s according to the United Nations.