Ethiopia plants 714.7M trees in one day, setting global record

ETHIOPIA – Ethiopia has made global headlines after planting 714.7 million tree seedlings across the country in just 12 hours.

The campaign, which took place on July 31 from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., saw nearly 29.7 million people take part in what officials are calling a moment of national unity and commitment to future generations.

Ethiopia’s Minister for Agriculture, Dr. Girma Amente, confirmed the numbers and said this effort strengthens the country’s Green Legacy Initiative.

The campaign, now in its sixth year, aims to restore degraded land and improve resilience to climate change through large-scale planting. This year, the target is to sow 7.5 billion seedlings during the rainy season.

Speaking on the achievement, President Taye Atske-Selassie shared his views through social media, calling it a “great reward to nature.”

He added, “Delighted to observe that our country Ethiopia set a new example by planting 714.7 million seedlings in one day! Keep on planting! It is to the Earth.”

Participants included people of all ages, from young children to senior citizens. Farmers, teachers, religious leaders, security officers, and medical workers all worked side-by-side.

Diplomats, foreign investors, and development partners also joined the effort. Planting took place at more than 13,000 locations covering close to 300,000 hectares of land.

“This is a thoughtful and honorable act to sustain life for generations to come,” President Taye added.

The Green Legacy Initiative plans to plant a total of 54 billion seedlings by the end of 2026. So far, nearly six billion have already been planted this rainy season, showing steady progress toward the larger goal.

Export growth signals economic momentum

While the nation’s environmental program gained global attention, Ethiopia’s horticulture sector also showed strong performance.

According to the Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration, the country earned over US$216 million from the export of flowers, fruits, and vegetables in the first five months of the 2024–2025 fiscal year.

Between July and November, flower exports brought in more than US$186 million from nearly 46,000 tons.

Vegetables and fruits added over US$30 million from more than 121,000 tons exported. Officials noted a 6.55 percent growth in earnings compared to the same period last year.

“Ethiopia’s horticulture products continue to attract international markets because of their quality and steady supply,” a senior ministry official said during a recent performance review. “We’re also seeing improvements in logistics and compliance with global standards.”

The Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, and the United Kingdom remained top buyers of flowers. Somalia, Djibouti, and the Netherlands led in vegetable imports.

The Ethiopian Horticulture Producer Exporters Association (EHPEA) continues to back the sector through training, technical support, and market access.

In the 2023–2024 fiscal year, Ethiopia earned over US$564 million from horticulture exports, with flowers and vegetables being the top products.

With the environment and export sectors both showing solid results, Ethiopia is setting an example for how national planning and public participation can work together to meet long-term goals.

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