Addis Ababa June
19/2022/ENA/ The Green Legacy initiative launched in June 2019 is rooted in a
vision of building a green and climate-resilient Ethiopia, Prime Minister Abiy
Ahmed said.
Issuing a statement
relating to the launch of Green Legacy program for 2022 to be held on
June 21st with a target of planting 6 billion seedlings, the prime minister went on saying: “ we are laying our foundation
for multidimensional prosperity by leaving a climate smart generational
legacy, during
this rainy season.”
PM Abiy added: “the energy we have harnessed in this process is a
key learning to be applied to yielding greater results in our agriculture
productivity.”
The July 29, 2019 challenge of planting 200
million seedlings within a 12-hour span and exceeded the challenge by planting
354 million seedlings as well as the June 21, 2021 that Ethiopians went out and
plant in a single day and cast their votes in for Ethiopia’s first democratic
election are the two particularly significant milestones during this three-year
period that are worthy of note.
The premier further stated that these two
milestone moments, together with efforts citizens have been making by
responding to each year’s Green Legacy challenge, have set into pace the
development of a green culture in Ethiopia.
A target of planting 20 billion seedlings within
a period of four years was set, the premier stated, and added “by the third
year, we had succeeded in planting close to 18 billion seedlings by mobilizing
more than 20 million citizens throughout the nation.”
According to him, “inevitably, when we set out
on the Green Legacy initiative, clear outcomes we expected included combating
the effects of climate change; restoring degraded landscapes and forests;
promoting a green culture and ecotourism; as well as improving the livelihoods
of citizens.”
In 2019, we embarked on an ambitious goal we
were confident would mobilize millions around the country and it would be so
transformational that the impact would be felt for generations to come, he
elaborated.
We also set to build an exclusive process that
will enable a large section of society to be custodians of such a Grand
National initiative first by participating in the execution and then by being
custodians for the future, Abiy pointed out.
The prevailing environmental context around the
country when we launched this initiative was a staggering rate of land
degradation due to deforestation, among other causes.
As it pertains to tackling deforestation, Green
Legacy as a movement has been instrumental in creating public awareness,
thereby leading to significant decline in the rate of deforestation over the
past couple of years, it was indicated.
Ethiopia is gravely affected by the consequences
of climate change and is considered a climate vulnerable country, he mentioned,
adding “our immediate and practical approach to addressing climate change, is
the Green Legacy initiative.”
“While literally sowing the seeds today, we have
no doubt these seeds will bear fruit across generations and contribute to
reducing carbon emissions, decreasing water and air pollution, increasing rains
in dry areas and preventing flooding and landslides,” Abiy stressed.
Ethiopia as a nation has achieved numerous
gains through the Green Legacy initiative and millions participate in planting
every year, the proliferation of nursery sites throughout the country has
enabled job creation for various sections of society.
Over 183 thousand permanent and temporary jobs
have been created as a direct outcome of our greening endeavors. In addition,
an annually improving survival rate of around 80% is contributing to the
creation of new forests, it was learned.
Some 7.2 billion seedings of which 52% account
for agroforestry trees, 47% forestry trees and the remaining ornamental trees
have been prepared for the fourth year Green Legacy program of 2022.
Abiy underscored “achieving this year’s planned
target will catapult us way above the four-year goal of planting 20 billion
seedlings.”
PM Abiy extended his invitation to all
Ethiopians to once again demonstrate perseverance for a generational cause; and
to African brothers and sisters, to join us in making Green Legacy a
continent-wide phenomenon, covering our beloved Africa in green; and to
international partners, to contribute to the continued success and reach of the
Green Legacy initiative.