Addis ababa: Some 27.5 percent of the seedlings planted under Ethiopia's Green Legacy Program were in the Blue Nile Basin, Agriculture Minister Girma Amente disclosed.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, 90,000 to 100,000 hectares of forest have been destroyed every year in Ethiopia. This deforestation trend has led to droughts, floods, and natural disasters. Following the national reform, the Green Legacy Initiative was launched in a participatory manner in 2019 to reverse these disasters.
Recalling the planting of 40 billion seedlings since the program's launch, the Minister said the achievements have raised Ethiopia's reputation globally. The implementation of the Green Legacy Program has increased forest coverage to 23.6 percent. Efforts are being made to raise it to 30 percent.
The Minister revealed that 27.5 percent of the seedlings were planted in the Nile Basin, increasing the coverage in the Basin to 25 percent. Efforts are being made to increase the seedlings planted to 50 billion this Ethiopian budget year, with a target of planting an additional 7.5 billion seedlings in the ongoing rainy season.
The Green Legacy Program is playing a role in reducing soil erosion and preventing fertile soil erosion by water. The 130-ton soil eroded from agricultural farms has been reduced by 50 percent due to government efforts. The program is also preventing dams from silt and helping restore water bodies, such as Lake Haromaya.
Reducing soil erosion has contributed to increased production and productivity, aiding the country in achieving its food security goals.