Ethiopian PM starts green initiative by planting first of 4 billion trees [Photos]

Over the weekend, Ethiopia Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed officially launched a national tree planting project aimed at planting 4 billion trees in the Horn of Africa nation. In photos that were shared by the official Twitter account of the Office of the Prime Minister, Abiy could be seen planting a seedling to officially kick start the initiative.

“Over the past years Ethiopia’s forest coverage has decreased in recent years and the initiative is set mobilize national reforestation at 40 trees per head,” the PM’s Twitter account shared.

Abiy also held a meeting with national agri transformation leaders in Adama city in his home region of Oromia to discuss their roles and responsibilities in modernizing the sector. He also tasked them to spearhead the National Green Development Program which he officially launched.

Ethiopia has, over the past few years, had to endure drought in certain areas of the country as a result of climate change. Africanews reports over 2 million animals died in the country in 2017 as a result of drought emanating from lack of rainfall.

This adds up to a list of positive initiatives Abiy has championed since he took office in 2018. Take a look at some photos of the official launch below: