In a powerful commitment to environmental restoration and sustainable agriculture, Jimma University (JU)—one of Ethiopia’s premier higher education institutions—launched a transformative tree-planting campaign. The initiative, embodying hope and renewal, kicked off at Beshasha Special Secondary School, where the university president, executives, and stakeholders came together to plant coffee seedlings.
The next phase of the campaign unfolded in Kersa Woreda (Jimma Zone), home to JU’s Bulbul Land Restoration Site—a striking example of nature’s resilience. Once a severely degraded, gullied landscape, the site had been revitalized over a decade through persistent restoration efforts, now flourishing as a thriving green sanctuary. Here, the planting of indigenous and fruit-bearing trees further cemented the university’s dedication to ecological revival
Expanding its environmental efforts, JU extended its agroforestry initiative to the Gambela Region. Responding to the region’s request that was further reinvigorated through major annual mobilization and coordination efforts by Ministry of Education (MoE), JU provided and planted over 1,000 improved banana seedlings (five varieties) along with drought-resistant neem trees in Gambela City, promoting sustainable land use practices.
The scale of the campaign was monumental, encompassing the planting of over 20,000 coffee seedlings, 3,000 banana plants, and more than 10,000 trees, including avocado, mango, papaya, acacia, and gravilia. Additionally, the initiative included the cultivation of 10,000 pineapple seedlings at the Agaro Campus of the University, showcasing a significant commitment to enhancing local agriculture and promoting sustainability.
Adding symbolic weight to the effort, W/ro Alemtsehay Pawlos, Head of the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet Affairs and Chairwoman of JU’s Board, joined the planting at the main campus, reinforcing leadership unity in the fight against climate change.
On July 31, 2025, aligning with Ethiopia’s national goal of planting 700 million trees, JU took another visionary step by establishing a 1-hectare coffee seed multiplication site at the Elidalle Agro-Tourism Research Center. This project not only advances sustainable coffee production but also pioneers agro-ecological research and eco-tourism.
Through these actions, Jimma University demonstrates that ecological renewal is achievable—one tree at a time. From barren lands to vibrant ecosystems, from academic theory to nationwide impact, JU continues cultivating a greener, more sustainable future for Ethiopia and beyond.
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