Millions of Ethiopians are anticipated to take part in a significant tree-planting initiative.
According to the authorities, they hope to plant half a billion seedlings in just 12 hours. However, simmering violence in some areas may prevent people coming out in large numbers.
This action is a part of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s “green legacy” initiative, which has included similar campaigns over the past four years during the country’s primary rainy seasons.
350 million seedlings were planted in a single day in 2019 but there has been no independent confirmation of the government’s claim. Authorities reported at the time that more than 20 million people participated in the campaign.
Some people questioned whether the provided statistics were accurate.
The goal this year is “to break [a] record,” according to a statement made by Prime Minister Abiy on Sunday. It’s unclear, however, whether the nation is making an application to Guinness World Records for verification and recognition.
Guinness claims that the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh saw the planting of more than 50 million trees in a single day in 2016.
According to the United Nations, Ethiopia was once heavily forested, with trees covering 35% of the country’s total land area in the early 20th century. By the 2000s, however, that percentage had dropped to just over 4%.
Source-BBC
