Deforestation

A Tree of Hope For Haiti

By Natacha Alexandre & Rene Devis, Heritagekonpa Magazine

(Page 2 of 3)

The vast majority of Haiti’s remaining forest and landscape are fragmented and imperiled. According to an article published by the Miami Herald (2003), ”Most of the remaining trees in Haiti, about 75 percent forested before Europeans arrived in 1492, are located in two parks and one of the forest reserves, including the La Visite Park and nearby Pine Forest Reserve, which together cover 77,000 acres high in the La Selle mountain range south of Port-Au-Prince. The third park, Pic Macaya, sits on 13,500 acres in mountains to the southwest. Those places must be saved and proclaimed national parks or monuments.

The Miami Herald has reported that little efforts have been made over the years to save the forest in Haiti. "Among them was a $22.5 million World Bank Project, its first environmental loan to the devastated country." Unfortunately, Haitian Minister of Environment Webster Pierre suspended the project soon after taking office in 2001 stating, "It wasn't [his] vision." The World Bank cancelled the project because "there is no evidence that the [project] slowed the pace of degradation of natural resources" and deplored high ministerial turnover, lack of commitment and inter-agency squabbling" The Miami Herald elaborated.

"The government wasn't particularly committed,” said the bank's project manager to the Miami Herald in a phone interview.

A Haitian school girl participated in the "Tree of Hope For Haiti" funded by Artists Relief Fund For Haiti, L’organization Du Nord Ouest Pour Le Developpment De L’environnement, and Heritage Konpa. Become a Sponsor and help make a difference today . Click for more information

Haiti was known as the "Pearl of the Antilles" before, during, and after 1492 until the degradation of the forest became a prevalent concern. "In 1925, Haiti was a green island paradise, with 60% of its original forest covering the land and mountainous regions. Over the years, the population has cut down 95% of its trees and in the process destroyed fertile farmland soils and “erosion has been severe in the mountainous areas," as per the research of Heritagekonpa Magazine for the "Tree Of Hope For Haiti Project".

Although many published reports have concluded that there is no governmental or private organization in place to care enough for such a serious problem, but there are a number of starts up Diaspora based organizations such as the Lambi Funds, Eritaj Foundation, and Green Trees, Artists Relief Funds For Haiti and L’Organization du Nord Ouest Pour le Development de L'Environement have shown concerns about the degradation of Haiti’s environment through projects such "The Tree of Hope For Haiti".

In 2004, The Artists Relief Fund For Haiti, a 501c(3) Humanitarian Organization, and L’Organization du Nord Ouest Pour le Development de L'Environement, have launched a joint venture to help combat deforestation in the region of Port-De-Paix, Petit Goave, and other regions in Haiti.

The objectives of the project are primarily to "Generate awareness about the deforestation problem in Haiti, campaign to the government to set aside lands for protected national parks and forests, find alternative energy sources to reduce the amount of trees being destroyed, and educate land owners on how to use the land for agricultural purposes and how to protect it from erosion, and deforestation," stated the project of Tree of Hope.

Organizations are currently working with local farmers and school children in Port-De Paix's to help them understand the importance of trees in the environment. In 2005, working in Port- De- Paix, they have planted 3,000 trees in Source Cacao, a vital agricultural site in the region. In May 2006, they plan to increase that amount to 10, 000, if more funding becomes available. They are hoping to expand the program throughout Haiti in the next ten years, and plant over 2 million trees in Haiti.

"You don't have to be a celebrity or a rich person to be part of the reconstructive efforts in Haiti. Sometimes it takes one person or organization to initiate change, but it takes a nation to make it happen. The purpose of The Tree Of Hope Project is to help secure funding to combat deforestation in Haiti", reported Rene Devis, one of the founders of Artist Relief Funds for Haiti. 

There is a famous Creole proverb that states "ANPIL MEN CHAY PA LOU", meaning, "A load is never too heavy with many hands supporting it". This is the exact motto of The Tree of Hope Project For Haiti, which hopes to galvanize the support of concerned citizens to help restore depleted tropical farming in affected areas in Haiti... 1 |2|Next Page »