In a powerful testament to what dedicated environmental action can achieve, Ethiopia's Green Legacy Initiative is breathing new life into landscapes once ravaged by deforestation. The Norway Development Fund has recognized these efforts as a decisive breakthrough, celebrating how the East African nation is turning the tide on decades of environmental degradation.

Sisay Kassahun, Head of Programs at Norway's Development Fund, shared encouraging news in an exclusive interview. Ethiopia's forest coverage, which once flourished at 25 to 30 percent before declining dramatically over generations, is now showing signs of robust recovery. "Since the GLI, there are indications that the forest coverage of Ethiopia is just increasing now," Kassahun explained, his words reflecting the optimism felt by environmental partners worldwide.

The transformation addresses challenges that have plagued the region for years. Severe soil erosion, recurring droughts, biodiversity loss, and climate extremes like floods and heat waves stemmed from extensive deforestation and land misuse. Now, through systematic conservation measures, Ethiopia is reversing this damage and rebuilding ecological resilience.

What makes this initiative particularly inspiring is its practical integration with rural livelihoods. Rather than viewing conservation as separate from farming, Ethiopia has embraced agro-forestry as a cornerstone strategy. This approach proves especially valuable for smallholder farmers working on limited land, with average household plots measuring just half a hectare.

Farmers are being guided to plant productive fruit trees like papaya, avocado, and mango, creating food sources while simultaneously restoring forest cover. This dual benefit transforms conservation from an abstract environmental goal into an immediate, tangible improvement in daily life.

The program combines biological and physical interventions in a thoughtful, comprehensive manner. Tree planting stabilizes soil and conserves precious moisture, while physical structures including soil bunds, terraces, and stone check dams harvest rainwater and prevent erosion. These measures work together to rehabilitate degraded land, transforming barren plots into productive farmland that can sustain families for generations.

The Ripple Effect

The impact of Ethiopia's Green Legacy Initiative extends far beyond individual farms or even national borders. By demonstrating how small farms can remain productive while restoring ecosystems, Ethiopia is providing a blueprint for climate resilience in agricultural communities worldwide.

The integrated approach strengthens rural economies, providing families with both immediate food security and long-term environmental stability. As forests return and soil quality improves, communities gain protection against climate extremes while building sustainable livelihoods.

Norway's Development Fund supports these efforts through local partnerships, recognizing that environmental restoration and human wellbeing are inseparable. "It's very much aligned with the Green Legacy initiative of the Ethiopian government," Kassahun emphasized, highlighting the harmony between international support and national vision.

Ethiopia's commitment to healing its landscapes represents more than environmental recovery. It embodies hope for future generations who will inherit healthier ecosystems, more productive land, and stronger communities. By linking conservation with livelihoods, the nation is proving that environmental restoration and economic development can flourish together, creating a foundation for lasting prosperity and ecological balance.