Ethiopia aims to restore its forests through a massive tree-planting campaign that tackles land degradation, food security, and climate change.
Niku Argane's farm, located in the hilly terrain of the Gurage Zone in central Ethiopia, reflects the consequences of extensive land degradation. Heavy flooding has carved gullies into his once-fertile land, diminishing his family's agricultural output from a surplus of barley and potatoes to a struggle to grow enough food. "We have never stopped farming, but our production declined because of land degradation," Argane explains from his farm in Ambele Kebele.
Over the past century, Ethiopia experienced significant forest loss, with nearly all its trees cleared for agriculture, grazing, and fuel. This extensive deforestation has resulted in soil erosion, further exacerbated by climate change. Ethiopia ranks among the countries most vulnerable to climate impacts, facing increasingly severe weather conditions. As rain intensity has increased, fertile soils have washed away, coupled with prolonged droughts that have degraded remaining arable lands. A looming crisis reflects the urgent need for action; land degradation costs the country approximately $4.3 billion annually, with crop failures directly linked to rising food insecurity — 15.8 million Ethiopians are projected to require food assistance in 2024.
“Reforestation almost always fails, says a researcher, but even if 30 percent of trees planted in Ethiopia survive, ‘it’s still huge.’”
In light of these challenges, Ethiopia has embarked on an ambitious reforestation campaign aimed at reversing historical land degradation. Argane himself has contributed by planting 80 tree seedlings on his farmland and another 50 in a communal area, joining the ranks of millions participating in the Green Legacy Initiative. This nationwide program has seen Ethiopian citizens plant more than 47 billion seedlings since its inception, with a goal of reaching 50 billion by 2030. The initiative seeks to revitalize native forests and integrate tree planting into agricultural practices to sequester carbon and counteract adverse climate impacts.
While some experts caution about the high failure rates of reforestation efforts, Aad Kessler, a researcher from Wageningen University, highlights that the massive scale of the project could yield substantial benefits even with a survival rate of just 30 percent. Ethiopia's forest cover, which once spanned 35 to 40 percent of the country in the early 20th century, has plummeted to potentially less than 3 percent by 1989, with highland areas losing an estimated 1 billion metric tons of topsoil each year due to poor land management practices.
After suffering from devastating droughts and famines in the 1970s and 1980s, the Ethiopian government began implementing soil and water conservation initiatives. Measures included excluding livestock from degraded lands, reforesting areas, and constructing check dams—small barriers designed to slow water flow and promote soil conservation. This groundwork laid in the 2000s eventually evolved into the Green Legacy Initiative, officially launched in 2019. The campaign mobilizes a wide array of participants, from farmers to schools, distributing seedlings and fostering community engagement.
As part of this initiative, in August 2023, a record 26.6 million Ethiopians planted 800 million tree seedlings in a single day, surpassing the previous year's achievement of 714.7 million. Volunteer Yeshihareg Teferi described her commitment: She has participated for five years, choosing indigenous species to plant in hopes of passing on a greener environment to future generations. Encouragingly, national forest cover reportedly rose from 17.2 percent in 2019 to 23.6 percent by 2023, with a corresponding reduction in the annual deforestation rate from over 350 square miles to approximately 100 square miles.
Beyond addressing deforestation, these efforts have also had positive ecological impacts. In Abijata-Shalla National Park, restoration activities have rejuvenated the ecosystem, leading to increased water levels in lakes and the return of fish and bird populations. Nonetheless, it's essential to note that reforestation is complex. A 2022 study indicated that around half of the planted trees in Asia did not survive beyond five years. Endalkachew Wolde-Meskel, a soil scientist, emphasizes that successful restoration requires more than just planting trees; it necessitates the regeneration of various plant species and community management practices.
“You can’t expect a baby to grow if you don’t care for it,” says an ecologist, but “that’s how plantation in Ethiopia is being done.”
Emiru Birhane Hizikias, a restoration ecologist, acknowledges the political backing for the initiative but raises concerns about logistical challenges. He argues that although ambitious, the focus on sheer numbers may hinder effective management of planted seedlings. Conversely, Abreham Berta Aneseyee, an environmental scientist, argues that the initiative includes expert guidance on best practices for seedling care. Studies suggest that about 80 percent of seedlings planted in certain areas under the Green Legacy Initiative survived, particularly among those receiving appropriate care.
Ethiopia's efforts are unprecedented in scale and complexity compared to other African nations. Kessler likens the Green Legacy Initiative to China's successful restoration of the Loess Plateau in the 1990s—both efforts sought mass mobilization and aggressive restoration strategies. While the funding and political commitment from Ethiopia are noteworthy, the continued dependency of millions of smallholder farmers on the land for their livelihoods presents its own challenges. A participatory approach, which engages local communities in restoration decision-making, may provide more sustainable outcomes.
Climate change continues to pose significant uncertainties for the future of Ethiopia's restoration initiatives. In arid regions like Afar and Somali, a focus on drought-resistant tree species is paramount, yet predicting the viability of these species decades from now remains challenging. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) forecasts more extreme weather events, which could hinder both agricultural productivity and restoration project success.
In July 2024, torrential rains led to landslides in the Geze Gofa district, claiming at least 257 lives and illustrating the new extremes the region faces. The consequences of climate change are altering traditional farming timelines, affecting not just crop yields but also the success of restoration efforts. Farmers like Belayneh Mamo express frustration as erratic weather disrupts planting schedules, showing the intertwined realities of agricultural productivity and ecological restoration.
Despite these challenges, Argane remains hopeful. On his hillside, restoration efforts have already led to visible changes. With the introduction of grasses and trees around his fields, his barley yield has risen significantly, from 1,800 pounds to 3,200 per acre, proving that restoring degraded land benefits not only the environment but also the livelihoods of families and communities.
“Restoring degraded land isn’t just about protecting the environment,” Argane says. “It’s also about making life better for my family and community.” Such sentiments encapsulate the broader aim of Ethiopia's ambitious Green Legacy Initiative, as the country strives to reconcile economic needs with ecological restoration.
