Saint-Michel-de-l'Attalaye - Haiti
Agroforestry
Reforest'Action is partnering with Agrinotech to run an agroforestry project that is both socially meaningful and impact-generating.
2019 - 2020
Financé
Discovered in the 15th century by Christopher Columbus, the island of Hispaniola, comprising Haiti to the west and the Dominican Republic to the east, was originally 80% covered by a wide variety of trees. Today, Haiti is one of the most deforested countries in the world, with only 2% of the country's total surface area covered by woodland. In 2022 alone, deforestation in the country emitted 894,000 tons of CO2 equivalent. Today, facing extreme poverty, the rural population is forced to chop down trees to produce charcoal, the only fuel available in the absence of any national energy policy. Farming families are bearing the brunt of negative impacts resulting from forest ecosystem destruction: soil degradation and lower crop productivity, prolonged drought, water pollution and more.
On the ground, the project aims to develop agroforestry by planting a variety of tree species in local producers' vegetable and cereal plots. Among the species chosen, fruit trees, such as lemon and orange tree, will produce fruits that communities will be able to harvest for their own consumption or to sell at local markets. Forest species, such as West Indian mahogany and sessile oak, will be used to produce energy wood, thus reducing pressure on the region's forests. Finally, medicinal species such as Prickly custard apple and moringa will be used for their therapeutic virtues by local populations. The development of agroforestry is carried out alongside the communities, thereby fully integrating local people into the project while raising their awareness about the benefits of the trees. Training workshops are organized among religious associations, youth groups, women and local producers. They cover topics such as the creation of a tree nursery, the impact of deforestation and the benefits of agroforestry. Finally, an awareness-raising program is organized for local schoolchildren, enabling them to plant their own trees and learn about the importance of preserving the environment.
Agrinotech stands for "new agricultural technologies". Agrinotech is a Haitian association specializing in the deployment of agricultural techniques conducive to the sustainable management of natural resources and the socio-economic development of local populations. Founded by a group of Haitian and American agronomists, Agrinotech focuses in particular on soil conservation and environmental preservation, as well as on training local producers in the latest sustainable farming methods.
