Planting a million trees in one day to combat desertification and deforestation caused by fires. At the heart of this challenge is the commitment of Fouad Maâla, president of the Algérie Verte association. His partnership with the Minister of Agriculture, Yacine Oualid, has made this unprecedented action a reality.
AI Index: Library of Mediterranean Knowledge
One million trees planted in one day to green the country
22-med – November 2025
• A national mobilization allowed for the planting of more than one million trees in 24 hours to restore forests devastated by fires.
• The initiative led by the Algérie Verte association and supported by the Ministry of Agriculture opens a new era of participatory reforestation.#reforestation #ecology #forest #Mediterranean #citizenship #environment
On Saturday, October 25, National Tree Day in Algeria, thousands of volunteers participated in an unprecedented operation: planting a million trees in one day. The initiative took place in nearly 700 municipalities across the 58 wilayas (departments) of the country.
Fouad Maala, the main initiator of this operation, became known on social media for his investment in reforestation. In Batna, the city where he resides, he became famous for his outbursts against the lack of vegetation in public spaces. But instead of just making videos, Fouad created the Algérie Verte association to foster a civic dynamic. In just two years, thanks to the association's nursery, thousands of seedlings have been distributed across the country.
Through his civic engagement, Fouad Maala has become an essential figure in Algeria. However, to launch a large-scale campaign, he needed the support of public authorities. The operation to plant a million trees took shape following the appointment of a new Minister of Agriculture, Yacine Oualid, who previously held the position of Minister of Vocational Education. From October 13, the day the campaign was announced, the hashtag #Unmilliondarbres went viral.
Cork oaks for Larbaa Nath Irathen
On the big day, the two men were together in Kabylie for the official launch. It was from the municipality of Larbaa Nath Irathen, severely affected by the fires of summer 2021 and 2023, that the signal was given. On the steep slopes of this locality, hundreds of people planted cork oaks.
From the early hours, buses provided for the volunteers served the planting areas. Seedlings, shovels, picks, water tanks... all the necessary equipment was available to get to work. Participation was not limited to associations, as several companies encouraged their employees to take part in this day. Diplomats stationed in Algiers, such as the U.S. ambassador, also planted trees.
“Theoretically, if half of the Algerian population participates in this operation, we could plant 25 million trees in one day. But the goal of this operation is not to plant seedlings in a haphazard manner. Everything has been planned in partnership with the General Directorate of Forests. We have identified and selected varieties suitable for each region, taking into account water issues and the protection of young shoots,” explains Fouad Maala.
This targeted approach was realized through the selection of various species, including 130,000 fruit trees to combine ecological and economic utility: carob trees, mulberries, olive trees, chestnut trees, pistachio trees, argan trees, and cherry trees. The rest of the seedlings consisted of drought-resistant species such as cork oak and Aleppo pine. The logic of adaptation to local conditions was also imposed on the Saharan regions. Argan trees were planted in Tindouf, paulownias in Naâma, dodonaeas and false pepper trees were planted in the regions of Touggourt and Ouargla.
Objectives Surpassed
According to the General Directorate of Forests, the initial assessment of the operation reveals that the million seedlings has been “significantly exceeded.” Djamel Touahria, the director general, emphasized that the primary goal “was to compensate for the vegetation cover ravaged by forest fires in recent years.” The official also noted that the greatest challenge is not to plant a million trees in 24 hours, but to maintain and protect them from overgrazing, human activities, and fires.
The destruction of forests has prompted Algerian authorities to encourage reforestation initiatives. The most significant one, led by the oil company Sonatrach, plans to plant 423 million trees by 2033.
In a video broadcast during the evening of October 25, Fouad Maala and Yacine Oualid celebrated the success of this planting day. “In some localities, there were more people than seedlings available,” humorously recounts the president of the Algérie Verte association. The next challenge is already set: a large reforestation campaign of several million seedlings on June 28, 2026, in celebration of World Tree Day.
Cover photo: thousands of volunteers participated in an unprecedented operation © Naftal