Conserving Haiti’s last remaining forests

The project and its challenges

Deforestation is taking root in the midst of the island’s extreme poverty

With almost 6 million people (almost 60% of the population) living below the poverty line and more than 4 million people living with severe food insecurity, Haiti is the poorest country in the Americas. Its economy is primarily based on agriculture and highly vulnerable to climatic hazards.

Two-fifths of Haitians, mainly working on small food farms, are dependent on the agricultural sector and regularly face natural disasters, such as hurricanes, earthquakes and floods. As a result, harvests are diminishing and failing to meet the needs of the population, with 60% of food requirements already being fulfilled by foreign imports. This, in turn, is leading to an acceleration in deforestation.

Today, the few remaining areas of forest and agroforestry cover just 10% of the land in Haiti.

Agroecology : a key approach to tackle the food and climate challenges faced in Haiti

The Secours Catholique – Caritas France (SCCF) organisation is helping to improve the living conditions of local communities, particularly in terms of food security and resilience to natural disasters and climate change, while preserving and restoring Haiti’s ecosystem. Caritas Haiti is the technical operator for the project and works with core local organisations in six communities across five of the island’s regions.

This project is based on four main areas:

• Encouraging families to adopt agro-ecological farming practices;
• Diversifying and improving food habits and hygiene among families;
• Restoring the environment and conserving the forest;
• Strengthening the bonds between families and organisations.

The MDM Foundation is supporting the SCCF in its efforts to promote agroecology and protect the environment. Among other things, the funds provided will:

• Raise awareness among at least 90% of families of the impacts of deforestation and the importance of protecting biodiversity.
• Restore forest cover by creating community nurseries and by planting 140,000 trees;
• Provide rural populations with training in agroecology and agroforestry techniques;
• Reduce the vulnerability of at least 50 hectares of natural and agricultural spaces to erosion;
• Purchase seeds and animals to ensure the food security of families;
• Organise six exchange visits between groups and develop four mutual solidarity systems within affected communities.