The Republic of Haiti is located on the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean Sea, and with a population of approximately 11.4 million people is the most populous country in the Caribbean.  It is also one of the most environmentally degraded countries on the planet. 

 

98% of Haiti’s forests are long gone, and the remaining forest is hacked into daily by a population who still depend almost entirely on charcoal as a primary cooking fuel. The deforestation of this already vulnerable island has weakened its natural defences against frequent hurricanes and flooding, leading to soil erosion and repeated crop failure.

 

Our partners Eden Projects took the time to really look into the most beneficial way of working with the unique challenges posed in Haiti.  With a tactical focus on Agroforestry (growing trees and food crops together which has many benefits for soil quality, crop health, ecosystem and sustainable living), Eden partnered with schools and universities to provide training for teachers, children and small scale farmers; within a few short years the trees planted became thriving little school and community forests. 

 

Eden Projects have also led a Farmer Managed Regeneration project, focusing on nurturing existing native trees back to health with speedy results for the health of surrounding land. And in 2020 they have been able to start essential work on the dilapidated mangrove systems that will help reestablish a safety buffer against hurricanes, sequester vast quantities of co2, and regenerate coastal ecosystems.