On 3rd August 2026, about one in every five Ethiopians put down their usual work and picked up a shovel. Be it a minister, diplomat, farmer or student, everybody went out to plant hope for our future generations.

According to the official estimates, more than 26 million people took part in the largest single-day plantation in the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE). By the end of the day, they had planted 800 million young trees. No country has ever planted so many in a single day.

The effort was not a sudden burst of enthusiasm. It is part of the Green Legacy Initiative, launched in 2019 by Prime Minister H.E. Dr. Abiy Ahmed for fast-tracking afforestation and reforestation efforts to achieve food security, avert land degradation and promote green economy.

The first target was four billion seedlings. Ethiopia beat it, planting 4.7 billion, including 350 million in one day, according to the Ministry........

© Pakistan Observer