ADDIS ABABA, Aug. 24 -- Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has commended the dedication and enthusiasm of fellow Ethiopians who took part in the planting of a record 615.7 million saplings in a single day on Friday.

Appreciating the commitment and active participation of citizens in reforesting the East African country, Abiy announced that the initial goal of planting 600 million saplings had been surpassed, with 615.7 million tree seedlings planted in a 12-hour period.

"Refusing to let the sun set without achieving our goal, we surpassed it, planting an astounding 615.7 million saplings by the end of the day," Abiy said on his X account on Friday.

The nationwide planting campaign, which was held under the theme "A Nation that Plants, a Generation that Perseveres," is part of the country's annual plan of planting a staggering number of 6.5 billion trees during the ongoing rainy season.

"Children have planted their hope. Young people have demonstrated their resilience. The elderly have left a legacy. From one corner of the country to another, Ethiopians stepped out and made their mark," the prime minister said.

After the end of Friday's nationwide tree-planting event, Abiy said Ethiopians have planted approximately 40 billion seedlings since the launch of the Green Legacy campaign in 2019.

"Today, we stand for climate balance, line up against soil degradation, and commit to ensuring food security. We have worked relentlessly to restore the prosperity of our land," Abiy said. "This is a testament to the incredible solidarity and perseverance of Ethiopians. Our gratitude goes out to the leaders, professionals, and media institutions who played key roles in planning, monitoring, and ensuring the success of this initiative."

As Ethiopia braces itself to combat desertification and address the adverse effects of climate change, a government-led massive tree-planting initiative, dubbed the Green Legacy campaign, is gaining momentum across Africa's second most populous country.

  - Xinhua