Across Ethiopia, women are emerging as powerful agents of environmental restoration, driving one of Africa’s most ambitious efforts to reverse deforestation, combat land degradation, and strengthen climate resilience. Through large-scale tree planting, watershed rehabilitation, and sustainable agricultural practices, they are helping to restore degraded landscapes while improving food security and creating new economic opportunities for their communities.
Their contribution is particularly significant given Ethiopia’s environmental history. At the beginning of the twentieth century, forests covered an estimated 35 to 40 percent of the country. Decades of agricultural expansion, overgrazing, dependence on fuelwood, and unsustainable land management practices, however, dramatically reduced forest cover, which fell to as little as 3 percent by the late 1990s. The consequences were severe, including widespread soil erosion, biodiversity loss, declining agricultural productivity, and increased vulnerability to droughts and floods.
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Recognising the urgency of these challenges, Ethiopia launched the Green Legacy Initiative in 2019. The nationwide programme was designed to restore ecosystems, expand forest cover, enhance biodiversity, and strengthen climate resilience. Since its inception, the initiative has evolved into one of the largest reforestation campaigns on the African continent, with an ambitious target of planting 50 billion seedlings by 2026. More than 48 billion seedlings have already been planted, mobilising millions of Ethiopians in annual tree-planting exercises.
Women have become central to the success of this transformation. Across rural communities, they manage tree nurseries, coordinate planting campaigns, protect watersheds, and promote climate-smart agricultural practices. Their leadership ensures that restoration efforts deliver not only environmental benefits but also tangible social and economic gains.
One of the most notable examples comes from eastern Ethiopia, where women-led climate resilience programmes have played a major role in rehabilitating more than 8,600 hectares of degraded land. These efforts have improved water retention, reduced soil erosion, restored vegetation cover, and enhanced local livelihoods, demonstrating the direct connection between environmental restoration and community well-being.
Women are also advancing agroforestry systems that integrate indigenous trees, fruit-bearing species, and agricultural crops. This approach strengthens biodiversity, improves soil health, increases agricultural productivity, and creates additional income streams for households. Community nurseries led by women have become important centres of employment, particularly for rural women and young people seeking sustainable livelihoods.
Recent developments in 2026 further reinforce Ethiopia’s growing reputation as a leader in climate restoration. In May, a new US$9.8 million climate resilience initiative was launched to expand Green Legacy best practices and strengthen ecosystem restoration across the country. The programme aims to support smallholder farmers and vulnerable communities through ecosystem-based adaptation measures that enhance resilience to climate change.
At the same time, Ethiopia unveiled a major Green Legacy Expansion Project that will restore more than 67,000 hectares of land and benefit over 423,000 people across multiple regions. The initiative is expected to create additional opportunities for women to participate in restoration activities, natural resource management, and climate-resilient economic development.
Despite these achievements, significant challenges remain. Climate change continues to threaten restoration gains through recurring droughts, erratic rainfall patterns, and rising temperatures that can reduce seedling survival rates. Women also face persistent barriers related to land ownership, access to finance, and representation in decision-making processes. Environmental experts emphasise that long-term monitoring, maintenance, and community engagement will be essential to ensure that newly planted trees mature into thriving forests.
When compared with other African countries, Ethiopia’s accomplishments stand out for both their scale and level of public participation. Kenya has earned global recognition for its advances in renewable energy and conservation. Rwanda has achieved notable progress in forest restoration and environmental governance. Meanwhile, countries participating in the Great Green Wall initiative, including Senegal, Niger, and Nigeria, are making important strides in combating desertification and restoring degraded landscapes.
What distinguishes Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative is its ability to mobilise millions of citizens while integrating reforestation with watershed restoration, climate adaptation, livelihood development, and community participation. This holistic approach has transformed environmental restoration into a national movement that connects ecological sustainability with economic growth.
The programme has also delivered significant social benefits. More than 120,000 nurseries have reportedly been established nationwide, generating hundreds of thousands of jobs, many of them for women and young people. This demonstrates how environmental restoration can serve as a catalyst for economic empowerment, social inclusion, and rural development.
As Africa confronts increasingly complex climate challenges, Ethiopia’s women are providing a powerful example of how local leadership can drive large-scale environmental transformation. Their efforts are restoring ecosystems, strengthening communities, and positioning Ethiopia as a model for climate resilience and sustainable development across the continent.
More importantly, their work highlights a critical lesson for Africa’s future: environmental restoration is not solely about planting trees. It is about creating resilient communities, empowering women, protecting natural resources, and building sustainable economies. Through determination, innovation, and collective action, Ethiopia’s women are not only restoring landscapes but also helping to shape a greener, more prosperous future for generations to come.
