Haiti

Why reforest in Haiti?

Deforestation began in Haiti when colonizers cut down trees for coffee, indigo, tobacco, and sugarcane plantations run by slave labor. Today, the leading cause of this deforestation is charcoal production and the consequences have been devastating. A mere 1% of its primary forests remain, and the UN estimates that 30% of those remaining trees are destroyed each year.

How we started

We began working in Haiti in 2010, where we quickly opened nurseries in four provinces with a focus on agroforestry. By producing agroforestry trees, small-scale subsistence farmers can increase food production, and food from these trees can be used by their families or sold at local markets. In addition, we distribute agroforestry trees to schools across our reforestation project sites in Haiti, where teachers and their students are trained in the skills needed to start small nurseries and grow the seedlings. A few years after planting these trees in Haiti, they have become thriving forests.

Where we're working

"Only at Eden": managing disasters of all kinds

In one year, Haiti was hit by a devastating hurricane, a 7.2 magnitude earthquake, and faced increasing political instability. These events only worsened pre-existing issues the country knows all too well. Yet, in the midst of all this, our reforestation team in Haiti remains steadfastly committed to reforesting their land and helping their community by continuing to plant thousands of trees to promote food security and poverty alleviation.

Our progress to date

The main focus of our 11 reforestation sites in Haiti is implementing agroforestry techniques that protect watersheds and improve food security throughout the community. By planting mangroves, our teams are helping stabilize shorelines and reduce erosion caused by natural disasters. In addition, our team equips local farmers with the training, tools, and trees needed to increase their food production and biodiversity.