Speaking at the occasion, an official with the ministry Getachew Zeru said the celebrations of the new Ethiopian millennium should not only be a one-time jamboree.

He said the millennium should be celebrated through undertaking development activities that can be transferred to the next generation.

The current tree seedling transplantation program is among such activities that contribute to restore the forest resources of the country.

Nearly 200 employees of the ministry took part in the event.

Similarly, employees of the Ministry Agriculture and Rural Development transplanted 18,000 tree seedlings on Saturday at Holeta town and its environs.

Some 1,500 civil servants of the ministry and affiliate offices took part in the “Two Trees for 2,000” project.

Speaking at the occasion, State Minster for Agriculture and Rural Development Dr. Abera Deressa said the project aims at replenishing the denuded forest resources of the country.

Director of the Millennium Celebration National Council Secretariat, Seyoum Bereded on his part said the project has been successfully implemented across the country.

He urged the agriculture and rural development professionals at various levels to nurture the seedlings even after the millennium celebrations.

Meanwhile, residents of the Lideta Sub-city of the Addis Ababa City transplanted over 13,000 indigenous tree seedlings on Saturday in connection with the millennium celebrations.

Residents from all the nine kebeles of the sub-city have gathered to transplanted the seedlings at a place locally known as ‘Sahelu forest’.

Sub-city chief executive officer, Fantu Seyoum said deforestation has been a major cause of recurrent drought and environmental pollution in the country.

She said some 21 million cubic meters of soil is eroded each year due to deforestation.

Fantu applauded the participation of the public in the implementation of the ‘Two Trees for the 2,000” project.

Addis Ababa Millennium Office Director, Kiros Hailesilassie on the occasion urged the public to nurture the seedlings.

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