Addis Ababa: Royal Norwegian Embassy in Addis Ababa has praised the tangible results that Ethiopia has achieved through its Green Legacy Initiative (GLI). The Ethiopian Green Legacy Initiative, launched in 2019, is a large-scale reforestation effort aimed at combating deforestation, restoring degraded landscapes, and enhancing environmental resilience, with a target of planting 50 billion trees by 2026.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, Live Jacob Sydness, Counsellor, Special Envoy for Climate at the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Addis Ababa, emphasized the GLI as an effective model for other nations during the 14th International Day of Forests celebration in Addis Ababa. During the 14th international Forests and Food event in Addis Ababa, Sydness told ENA that Ethiopia is successfully restoring degraded lands. She highlighted the environmental protection efforts of the Ethiopian government over the past six years that have resulted in visible and tangible changes.
“The GLI has brought about a major transfor
mation in Ethiopia’s landscapes and the bilateral agreement between Norway and Ethiopia on environmental protection complements this progress,” she added. Sydness also emphasized that the initiative and the collaboration between Norway and Ethiopia on forestry are closely aligned. “I want to congratulate Ethiopia for the impressive efforts and the results achieved,” she remarked.
Highlighting Ethiopia’s decisive political leadership in implementing the Green Legacy Initiative, Sydness suggested that it could serve as a model for other nations facing similar challenges. She attributed the initiative’s success to broad stakeholder engagement and praised Ethiopia’s dedicated rehabilitation fund for fostering further progress. Sydness also noted Norway’s long-standing support for Ethiopia’s forest conservation since 2011, emphasizing their collaboration on community afforestation and forest preservation.
According to Sydness, active participation of local forest communities in planning and decision-making is cr
ucial. “Involving local communities is the cornerstone of our bilateral relationship,” she stated. The Special Envoy noted the cooperation of Norway and Ethiopia has also focused on women’s land rights, recognizing their vulnerability to forest degradation, stressing the importance of women’s central role in conservation efforts, and noting the transformative impact on their lives, families, and children.