ADDIS ABABA (AAU/Semonegna) The Ministry of Science and Higher Education (MoSHE), in collaboration with a coalition of four public universities in Addis Ababa and the attendance of top officials of the Ministry as well as administrators of the universities, have officially launched the 2021 Green Legacy Initiative at Addis Ababa Entoto Park on 3rd June 2021.
Mulu Nega (PhD), Deputy Minister of MoSHE, said that the Green Legacy Initiative, a project launched in 2019 by the Ethiopian Prime Minister as a continuing plan to plant 20 billion seedlings by 2022, has been carried out under the initiative and leadership of the Prime Minister and higher education institutions in different parts of the country have been instrumental in this work.
“The theme of this year’s Green Legacy Planting Trees project is ‘Let’s Make Ethiopia Green’ and its purpose has great significance and message for higher education institutions and the community as a whole,” Dr. Mulu said.
Professor Tassew Woldehanna, President of Addis Ababa University (AAU), in his welcoming address said, “During the first Green Legacy Initiative program, we planted a lot of seedlings in one day and a great deal of work was done which enabled us to register [Ethiopia’s] name on the world record.”
“We planted more than 4,500 seedlings in Gulele Sub-City last year, 87 percent of which has grown well. We have also planted a number of indigenous seedlings on various campuses of AAU,” Prof. Tassew said.
He added, “The University has prepared 50,000 seedlings this year in a project named ‘A Multipurpose Indigenous Tree Nursery Establishment for Green Legacy’ in AAU’s own capacity and volunteers with the aim of contributing to the Green Initiative.”
Birhanemeskel Tena (PhD), President of Kotebe Metropolitan University (KMU), said, “We will build our country together through escalating the Green Initiative and our universities are committed for this. We will continue the path of change together withstanding challenges that we have been facing so far.”
“As our country is a coffee-producing country, a large-scale tree planting is needed in all parts of the country to increase the supply of coffee to the foreign market. We need to intensify this planting campaign with the participation of the general public,” Dr. Birhanemeskel noted.
Dereje Engida Woldemichael (PhD), Addis Ababa Science and Technology University (AASTU) President, on his part said that Today’s program is also a day for government universities to participate in green tree planting activities and for universities to form a joint forum.
AAU, AASTU, KMU, and the new entrant to higher education in the country, Ethiopian Technical University (ETU), attended the Green Legacy Planting Trees Initiative, themed “Let’s Make Ethiopia Green.”
In March 2021, in a report presented to Ethiopian parliamentarians, the Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said that Ethiopia plans to plant six billion tree seedlings in the coming months.
“The public response to last year’s Green Legacy planting season was overwhelmingly positive and encouraging. Last year we aimed for 5 billion and we executed accordingly.This year our target is set at planting 5.9 billion seedlings. Dreaming big and aiming high is crucial. But continuity is what breeds excellence.It’s my wish that everyone is actively engaged with enthusiasm as we cultivate a green culture.” the Prime Minister said.
Sources: AAU/ GreenLegacy.et