Addis Ababa (AMECO) — Residents and senior officials across Ethiopia’s Harari region have taken part in a single-day mass tree-planting campaign, with local leadership praising the national Green Legacy initiative for delivering tangible improvements in agricultural yields, soil conservation, and employment creation.
Speaking at the launch of the regional drive, Harari Regional State Chief Executive Ordin Bedri said the environmental programme was proving crucial in preventing soil erosion, restoring degraded landscapes, and driving sustainable socioeconomic development for future generations.
The single-day campaign saw widespread participation across urban and rural communities, bringing together farmers, youth groups, women, community elders, and religious leaders alongside senior regional and military officials. Among those attending were Major General Fekadu Tsegaye, Deputy Commander of the Ethiopian military’s Eastern Command; Roza Umer, Deputy Chief Executive and head of the regional agriculture bureau; Sultan Abdusalam, Speaker of the regional council; and Getu Weyesa, head of the Prosperity Party’s regional branch.
Planting activities were carried out across 14 designated sites in urban and rural kebeles, targeting a mix of fruit-bearing trees, forest species, and livestock fodder.
Ms Roza noted that fruit seedlings planted during earlier phases of the Green Legacy programme were already making a direct contribution to household food security among local farmers.
Addressing long-term sustainability, Mr Ordin added that regional authorities and local communities would intensify post-planting care and management to ensure high seedling survival rates in the months ahead.
