Addis ababa: The Green Legacy Initiative (GLI) is playing a significant role in ensuring food sovereignty in Ethiopia, according to Mayor of Addis Ababa City, Adanech Abiebie. The Mayor, alongside city residents, participated in a national tree planting campaign aiming to plant 700 million seedlings in just 12 hours.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, Mayor Adanech took part in the initiative by planting seedlings at the Ginfle riverside in Addis Ababa. She noted that 271 planting sites have been prepared across the city as part of the national campaign to set a new record for planting tree seedlings in a single day.
The Mayor highlighted that the Green Legacy Initiative is not just about environmental conservation but also about building a climate-resilient economy. It aims to foster a healthy environment, protect against soil degradation, and promote ecological conservation. Moreover, Adanech emphasized the initiative’s role in ensuring food security by including the planting of edible tree seedlings.
She further explained, “We can ensure our food sovereignty through this green legacy initiative. We are planting seedlings that are not just trees to beautify the city but also food plants–fruit-bearing seedlings.” The initiative embodies a spirit of unity and collaboration, with all segments of society actively participating, regardless of social and cultural backgrounds.
Mayor Adanech elaborated on the diverse participation in the campaign, stating, “Elders, children, youth, women, professional associations, political parties, government employees, civil societies, among others have been actively participating in the national campaign. The spirit within the campaign is unity and cooperation.”
Efforts are underway to make Addis Ababa more livable, with the city’s greenery coverage recently increasing from 2.8 to 22 percent. Addis Ababa Police Commissioner, Getu Argaw, also highlighted the importance of clean and healthy environments, equating them with safety and security. The police force is committed to both ensuring peace and security and participating in environmental conservation through seedling planting.