NATIONAL REFORESTATION (CONTINUED)

Establishing an Independent Evaluation, Control, and Monitoring Body
CHFESDI will work with its partners to establish an independent structure capable of evaluating the projects related to the national reforestation program. This structure will validate the results of completed projects, both qualitatively and quantitatively. In fact, CHFESDI wants project promoters to submit detailed reports of their achievements, and the content of these reports should be validated by an independent body, financially, politically, and ideologically. Only proper documentation of results over several years will allow, on one hand, accountability to donors, authorities, and the population, and on the other hand, improvement of processes for future projects. A good approach for setting up such a structure would be to strengthen and coordinate the research departments of certain Haitian universities already working in this field.

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Creating a Reference, Demonstration, Training, and Research Center
As part of its national reforestation program, CHFESDI plans to quickly create a place that can serve as a demonstration of what can be done in the field of reforestation. While such a demonstration and research center should be established in each department of the country, CHFESDI will start with a single model center that can be replicated later. Funding for this center could come from large businesses or foreign governments. We will choose a desertified area, for example, one of the many barren "mornes" visible along roads in various Haitian regions. After a few years, the center will serve as a botanical garden and a model forest under construction. It will be accessible to students, schoolchildren, volunteers from associations, and agricultural technicians. Farmers will be able to obtain useful information to improve their practices and, in turn, participate in reforesting their regions. A research center should be established to develop local species, produce seeds or seedlings in a well-equipped nursery.

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Creating an Annual 'One Tree - One Person' Program
As an example of success, Quebec has such a program, established in 2014, which has yielded promising results in environmental protection. We know that a national reforestation program in Haiti requires cutting-edge, inclusive initiatives with high visibility. It is with this in mind that CHFESDI will establish the "One Tree - One Person" program, aimed at strengthening the synergy to plant hundreds of thousands of trees with the involvement of all local actors. The program should be launched in a festive and popular manner on May 1st each year. It would certainly be easy to mobilize Haitian musical artists, many of whom have sung about nature and the hope of one day regaining the Pearl of the Caribbean. Large concerts or other artistic events could be organized to raise awareness of the program. Each family will be able to plant a tree in their own yard, and we will invite cities and villages, rural areas, businesses, associations, and even individuals to propose locations for planting trees and act as responsible parties for site preparation, planting, and follow-up of the trees. Proposed locations could include private gardens, streets, vacant lots, parks, or any land owned by municipalities or businesses.

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Encouraging Adequate Participation from International Donors
International donors certainly have an important role to play, given the issue of deforestation and environmental protection in Haiti. CHFESDI will seek to establish partnerships with international donors, including foreign governments, particularly with countries that have strong experience in reforestation or advanced practices in the protection of natural environments. We will notably work with Cuba, with which we already have some cooperation agreements, as well as with Costa Rica, Brazil, El Salvador, and other countries like Canada and Quebec, which could share their experiences with Haiti.

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Favoring Simple Techniques like Fencing and Vegetative Barriers
Fencing and vegetative barriers could be a winning strategy for ground coverage. These areas can quickly attract attention and represent an opportunity for people who are desperately seeking means of survival. In fact, a fence has the advantage of clearly marking restricted access for unauthorized persons. A vegetative fence is effective, economical, and easy to implement.

 

Paying Special Attention to Funding Requests
CHFESDI is aware of the cost that a national reforestation program will incur. Just consider the high cost of nurseries that will produce seedlings, the purchase of land, compost, etc., not to mention watering and protection against animals, which are unavoidable and require a lot of time and effort. That is why CHFESDI cannot initiate this program without the financial support of international donors and, of course, the contribution of the Haitian government. CHFESDI will find creative ways to reduce costs, maintain the motivation of field actors, and ensure that high efficiency is maintained.