Djibouti Plants Tree-seedlings Given by Ethiopia

ADDIS ABABA – Djibouti on Thursday planted tree seedlings accorded by Ethiopia as the Green Legacy Initiative expands to neighboring countries.

Ethiopia announced last year that it would sent a billion tree seedlings to its neighboring nations with a view to create a green Africa.

Djibouti and South Sudan were the first two countries to express their interest and accept the offer.

“Ramping up the Green Legacy Initiative, Djibouti planted trees accorded by the Gov’t of Ethiopia, with the goal of turning Djibouti green and mitigating the effects of climate change,” said the Ethiopian foreign Ministry.

Thursday’s tree planting campaign took place in Djibouti City in the presence of the its Mayor, Fatouma A. Osman.

Apart from adding to a positive image of the Djibouti City, Mayor Fatouma said the Green Legacy Initiative would enhance the ongoing efforts to create a climate change resilient environment in the region.

The Mayor also thanked the government of Ethiopia for providing seedlings, adding that the two countries are keen to further continue the implementation of the Initiative.

The Deputy Head of Mission of the Ethiopian Embassy and its staffs, as well as members of the Ethiopian diaspora community have also participated in the campaign.

Launched in 2019, Ethiopia plans to plant 20 billion trees nationwide within four years with the help of the Initiative.

So far, 4 billion seedlings were planted in 2019, including the infamous record-breaking 353 million seedlings in one day, while in 2020, 5 billion seedlings were planted. In 2021, 6 billion trees will be planted.

Last year, over 6.7 billion tree seedlings were planted in the annual Green Legacy program which started on May 18, 2021, the Office of the Prime Minister reported.