Ethiopians from all walks of life took to open spaces nationwide on Monday to take part in a
massive campaign that set out to plant 200 million seedlings in a span of 12 hours.
The initiative was introduced by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to plant 4 billion tree seedlings in the rainy season of June, July and August. Studies show Ethiopia’s forest cover at the onset of the 19th Century accounted for 420,000 square kilometers (35% of the country’s land area), which has now dwindled to under 10%. Forest clearing for settlement and farming purposes is the main culprit for forest depletion in Ethiopia whose population almost tripled from 1940 to 2000.
More than 80% of Ethiopia’s population lives in rural areas with agriculture (farming and/or cattle rearing) as the prime source of income. In a show of solidarity to Ethiopia’s efforts, Turkish Embassy diplomats and staff in Addis Ababa planted trees.
CENTER FOR AFRICAN STUDIES
Center for Africa Studies (AFRAM) which located in Ankara, is an organization facilitating under the administration of African Affairs Council (AFAC). It makes various researches about Africa to enhance economic and cultural bounds between Africa and Turkey. AFRAM’s publishings has been shared with different institutions as they require to obtain.
AFRICA OBSERVATORY
Africa Observatory is one the publishing of AFRAM and it has been published each two weeks. It has been delivered to different institutions via e-mail.
