---
title: "350 million trees in one day: how Ethiopia tried to break the world record and what came of it"
description: "In 2019, Ethiopia claimed to have planted 353 million trees in a single day, attempting to break the world record 🌳. Despite the lack of official confirmation from Guinness, the scale of the campaign impressed the UN. However, scientists note the problem of low seedling survival rates and call for shifting the focus from quantity to the quality of forest restoration 🌍."
date: 2026-08-02T13:44:24.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/ethiopia-350-million-trees-record-and-reality-en
tags: [ethiopia, green-legacy, environment, climate-change, tree-planting]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# 350 million trees in one day: how Ethiopia tried to break the world record and what came of it

![Ethiopia planting trees: collage of forest canopy, hands holding soil, and seedlings — symbol of massive reforestation effort](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/02/efiopiya-350-millionov-derevev-rekord-i-realnost/efiopiya-350-millionov-derevev-rekord-i-realnost-1.webp)

In 2019, Ethiopia undertook an unprecedented attempt to change its country's climate and set a world record simultaneously. As part of a nationwide tree-planting campaign involving millions of people, official data states that over 350 million seedlings were planted in a single day. This event was part of the massive "Green Legacy" initiative launched by the government of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

### Ecological crisis as a catalyst

The scale of the campaign is explained by the dramatic reduction of forest areas in the country. A century ago, forests covered about 35% of Ethiopia's territory. However, by the 2000s, according to data from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), this figure had fallen to a meager 4%. In just one generation, forests practically disappeared, leading to increased soil erosion and creating critical pressure on firewood supplies, upon which the growing population depends.

It was in response to this loss that the program was launched, aiming to plant four billion trees in one rainy season. The climax was the attempt to set a record on one specific day: the goal was to plant 200 million seedlings. Schools and government institutions suspended operations so that staff could join the campaign. UN agencies and international organizations also joined the initiative.

### Figures and records: reality versus expectations

By the end of the day, the Minister of Innovation and Technology, Getachew Mekuria, stated that approximately 353,633,660 seedlings were planted in about twelve hours. This figure was five times higher than the previous world record, held by India, where 1.5 million volunteers planted 66 million trees in 2017.

The international community reacted to the announcement with enthusiasm. Juliette Biaou Koudenkpo, Director of the African Bureau of the UN Environment Programme, noted that afforestation is currently the most effective way to combat climate change.

However, behind the loud figures lies an important nuance: Ethiopia never submitted an official application to the Guinness Book of World Records. As the organization's press secretary, Jessica Dowse, reported, the country did not even attempt to register the achievement. This means the record was not officially confirmed by independent experts. Counting more than a third of a billion seedlings planted in thousands of locations within twelve hours is, by nature, only approximate, and the count was conducted by an interested party.

### Survival rates and long-term prospects

Even if the actual figure was half of what was claimed, the organizational scale of the event remains impressive. The country demonstrated its ability to mobilize millions of people around a single task. The government extended the program annually, reporting that by 2024, a total of about 40 billion seedlings had been planted. In a 2022 statement, the Prime Minister's office claimed that the program had yielded results.

Nevertheless, the scientific community approaches these claims with caution. A 2025 study focusing on the Gubalafito district recorded an average tree survival rate of only 39.8% for the period from 2019 to 2024. A later analysis, combining results from 38 studies, pointed to a key problem: the lack of reliable data on how many trees actually survived and what benefit they bring to ecosystems.

Scientists insist that the initiative should shift its focus from quantitative planting to qualitative ecosystem restoration. Nevertheless, the program has borne indirect fruit: the number of nurseries in the country grew from less than 40,000 to about 121,000 between 2019 and 2022. Whether these efforts will turn into sustainable forests remains an open question.