Ethiopia Plants Record 800 Million Trees in a Single Day

Millions of Ethiopians — the government reported over 22.2 million participants — took part in a nationwide one-day tree-planting campaign on August 3, 2026, planting a reported 800 million seedlings, the largest single-day total in the eight-year history of PM Abiy Ahmed's Green Legacy Initiative and surpassing the prior 2024 record of roughly 700 million. Ministers of Finance, Agriculture, Water and Energy, Planning and Development, and Trade and Regional Integration led planting activities across the country. The event is part of Ethiopia's 2026 target of 8 billion seedlings for the rainy season, pushing the initiative's cumulative total past 48 billion trees since its 2019 launch, toward an eventual goal of 50–65 billion. Abiy Ahmed said: 'Eight years of consistent action. The Green Legacy Initiative continues to grow stronger, driven by public commitment and the shared belief that, together, Ethiopians can nurture a greener, more sustainable future.' Officials cite forest cover gains from 17.2% to 23.6% and a reduction in soil erosion from 130 to 54 tons per hectare in covered areas since the campaign began, though independent verification of nationwide survival rates and precise planting locations remains limited.