Addis Ababa: While planting saplings in Assosa, the regional capital of Benishangul-Gumuz, today, PM Abiy Ahmed said we must continue planting in areas like the Abay River Basin to support water conservation. On this historic day, we have gathered in the city of Assosa for the one-day planting event, in a region known for its natural abundance, mineral wealth, and fertile lands, Abiy wrote on X. With the conclusion of today's event, we will have planted around 40 billion seedlings since the launch of the Green Legacy program in 2019, he added. The premier noted that out of the seedlings planted in the past year, 50 percent have been focused on food security, soil conservation, and combating land degradation. In conclusion he said, 'As we move forward, we must continue planting in areas like the Abay River Basin to support water conservation.' Source: Ethiopian News Agency