Ethiopia Continues Nationwide Tree Planting Campaign

Ethiopia is continuing its national tree-planting campaign, among the largest reforestation efforts anywhere by number of seedlings planted.

The programme responds to a real problem. Ethiopia's highland forest cover declined substantially over the twentieth century under pressure from agricultural expansion, fuelwood demand and construction timber. The consequences show up as soil erosion on steep highland slopes, sedimentation in reservoirs, and reduced water retention in catchments that feed both domestic supply and the Blue Nile.

The campaign has planted very large numbers of seedlings in mass mobilisation events, with public participation across regions. Seedling counts are the figure most often reported.

Survival rate is the figure that determines outcome. Planting a seedling and establishing a tree are different achievements, and the gap between them depends on species selection, site matching, rainfall in the first two seasons, protection from grazing, and follow-up care. Independent assessment of survival rates across large-scale campaigns is methodologically difficult, and estimates vary.

Species choice carries a long-term consequence. Fast-growing exotics such as eucalyptus establish quickly and provide usable timber and fuelwood, but have high water demand and limited biodiversity value. Indigenous highland species support more ecological function and establish more slowly.