Ethiopia plants 350m trees in a day to help tackle climate crisis, #GreenLegacy July 29, 2019

Posted by OromianEconomist in Uncategorized.
Tags: Abiy Ahmed, green legacy, tackle climate crisis
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Ethiopia plants 350m trees in a day to help tackle climate crisis

National ‘green legacy’ initiative aims to reduce environmental degradation

Anna Ploszajski, The Guardian, 29 Jul 2019 

About 350m trees have been planted in a single day in Ethiopia, according to a government minister.

The planting is part of a national “green legacy” initiative to grow 4bn trees in the country this summer by encouraging every citizen to plant at least 40 seedlings. Public offices have reportedly been shut down in order for civil servants to take part.

The project aims to tackle the effects of deforestation and climate change in the drought-prone country. According to the UN, Ethiopia’s forest coverage was just 4% in the 2000s, down from 35% a century earlier.

Tree planting ‘has mind-blowing potential’ to tackle climate crisis

 Read more

Ethiopia’s minister of innovation and technology, Dr Getahun Mekuria, tweeted estimates of the number of trees planted throughout the day. By early evening on Monday, he put the number at 353m.

The previous world record for the most trees planted in one day stood at 50m, held by India since 2016.

Dr Dan Ridley-Ellis, the head of the centre for wood science and technology at Edinburgh Napier University, said: “Trees not only help mitigate climate change by absorbing the carbon dioxide in the air, but they also have huge benefits in combating desertification and land degradation, particularly in arid countries. They also provide food, shelter, fuel, fodder, medicine, materials and protection of the water supply.

“This truly impressive feat is not just the simple planting of trees, but part of a huge and complicated challenge to take account of the short- and long-term needs of both the trees and the people. The forester’s mantra ‘the right tree in the right place’ increasingly needs to consider the effects of climate change, as well as the ecological, social, cultural and economic dimension.”

Read more from Oromian Economist social media sources:

The figures of today’s States In Seedling Plantation:
1. Oromia 211,938,515
Finfinnee city 3,523,857
Dirre_Dhawaa  city 258,993

 State of Oromia total = 215,721,365
2. Amhara State 70,564,872
3. Southern Ethiopia nations 54,352,762
4. State of Tigray 9,557,340
5. Benishangul_Gumuz 1,431,177
6. Somali Regional State 847,482
7. Gambella 530,141
8. State of Afar 445,896
9. Harari 182,625

Total = 353,633,660

Zinash Tayachew, @FLEthiopia, joined #Oromia regional state vice president @ShimelisAbdisa, members of #ENDF & Oromia police, as well as community members and senior federal and regional officials, in Godi Gede Kebele, near #Bishoftu city. #GreenLegacy #Ethiopia pic.twitter.com/ftx2nTxw7K

— Addis Standard (@addisstandard) July 29, 2019

Community members in #Jimma and its environs in #Oromia regional state providing snacks and #coffee to those participating in today's #GreenLegacy campaign. Pictures from social media. #Ethiopia pic.twitter.com/cdizK7MzG2

— Addis Standard (@addisstandard) July 29, 2019

PM #AbiyAhmed arrived in #ArbaMinch city to participate in "#GreenLegacy initiative where he already planted seedlings with government officials and community members this morning," #PMO. #Ethiopia pic.twitter.com/vXxeb1CcRx

— Addis Standard (@addisstandard) July 29, 2019

In #AddisAbeba, @TakeleUma joined religious leaders, community members, city admin employees & football fans to participate in today's #GreenLegacy in various parts of the city such as #Kolfe park and #Qoshe landfill area.Ten different areas were readied for planting in AA alone. pic.twitter.com/0UJ4N0v5na

— Addis Standard (@addisstandard) July 29, 2019

In #Tigray regional state, the region's vice president Debretsion Grebre Michael was joined by senior regional officials Abraham Tekeste, Getachew Reda and others, as well as members of #ENDF & community members in Enderta Woreda, Endabashelma area in SE Tigray. #GreenLegacy pic.twitter.com/V8oTuHn3jj

— Addis Standard (@addisstandard) July 29, 2019

President @SahleWorkZewde arrived in the historic city of #Gonder yesterday. Today, together with Temesgen Tiruneh, the newly appointed president of #Amhara regional state, and community members, she participated in the ongoing #GreenLegacy in central Gonder zone, Minzro kebele. pic.twitter.com/kvsO66Hq4q

— Addis Standard (@addisstandard) July 29, 2019

Members of Ethiopian National Defense Force (#ENDF) participating in today's #GreenLegacy program.

Source: ENA. #Ethiopia pic.twitter.com/VQF3hKQOyI

— Addis Standard (@addisstandard) July 29, 2019