Ethiopia’s forests have been declining due to agricultural conversion, increased wood extraction for fuel and construction, and livestock over-grazing. The country has several high-profile tree-planting programmes, including the Green Legacy Initiative (GLI). Proponents say the GLI will help re-green the country, improve local livelihoods and build climate resilience, while critics say it serves as a tool primarily for political gain.

This report examines how the GLI and other such programmes could achieve positive outcomes in the post COVID-19 recovery. What are the best ways to plant the right trees in the right places with the right incentives for the right people to take care of them?