One Billion Trees Planted in 2007 - But How Many in Haiti?By Bryan Schaaf on Wednesday, November 28, 2007.
see more topics in:
Much of this success is due to Wangari Maathai, the first African winner to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Maathai remembered growing up in a Uganda which had ample tree cover, while at present many areas of the country have been utterly deforested. Over many years, and not without resistance, she was able to organize mass tree plantings that have made a difference and inspired other countries to do the same.
In a country like Haiti, reforestation is important for many reasons. It will prevent natural disasters, keep the soil productive, help ensure people have enough to eat and by extension maintain the health of the people and also protect and create livelihoods (beyond wood charcoal production). There are non-tangibles as well - when the country is forested, it is beautiful and encourages national pride. It is difficult for even the most stalwart Haitiphile to be proud of the dustbowls around Mount Kabrit, Saint Marc, or worst of all, the Northwest region.
It is worth mentioning that the smaller of the two countries, Ethiopia, planted 700 million trees compared to Mexico's 217 million. UNEP Honorable Mentions include: Turkey 150 million, Kenya 100 million, Cuba 96.5 million, Rwanda 50 million, South Korea 43 million, Tunisia 21 million, Morocco 20 million, Myanmar 20 million and Brazil 16 million.
See Haiti on there? Me neither. Haiti is not even in the game when it comes to preserving the environment. Not even protecting the tree-cover that is left. There are some international organizations, non-governmental organizations, and grassroots organizations doing their part but until the Haitian government and the civil society priortize the environment, these groups will be treading water.
Other countries have taken notice. UNEP reports China, Guatemala and Spain are expected soon to announce new plantings of millions of trees. Indonesia is expected to plant almost 80 million trees in one day alone in the run up to the Bali climate meeting. According to UNEP, the Nairobi-based World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), the environment can be rescued by afforestation.
If that is the case, then it can save Haiti as well. We have all been inundated with reports, papers, books, conference discussing what will happen to countries like Haiti if nothnig is done. But the initiative has to be internal and it has to come from Haitians themselves and not the outside experts - once the country demonstrates it is serious, donors will get behind them but not until then.
It took hundreds of years to deforest Haiti, it may take as long to restore it to its former glory. But we need to start now.
Bryan . |
Search
Blogroll
Subscribe to our News
|
cooking fuel
Please look at the methane digester, second entry. This could be a substitute for charcoal.
http://tilz.tearfund.org/Publications/Footsteps+41-50/Footsteps+46/Alter...
reforestation in Haiti
I believe reforestation is very critical in Haiti, regardless of other problems such as crime or politics. The survival of Haiti as a habitable place is at stake. Reforestation is about more than trees: it is water quality, flood prevention, wildlife habitat, air humidity, building materials, and raising the water table. Most importantly, community, because the people themselves will have to do the work, and not for reward either. I believe the Haitian people can fix this problem, but they cannot do it alone. Nor will it be easy. To find solutions to rural poverty and the destruction of the environment will require a coalition of NGOs with diverse skill sets. It will require education of villagers and farmers, and armed security to protect the young forests. And it will take decades before results are seen. Take hope, and trust in the LORD. All things can be accomplished by His Grace.
The problem highlights the
The problem highlights the fundamental weakness of politics: normal folk having to lobby the politicians for change. Secondly, I don't think it's the case of the government not realising the damage deforestation does, it's that deforestation is very lucrative and no government thinks past their current term of power.
The question is, aside from
The question is, aside from mass mobilization, what can the common man do to affect political change? It's certainly been done before by small groups and individuals, so what can be done in Haiti?
Vicious Circle
The killings and kidnappings of which you speak are largely centered in the Republic of Port au Prince, which I would argue is not really Haiti. There is much that is right about Haiti, but it is hard to find any redeeming value in Port. Why reforest? Because of erosion the soil in the countryside is becoming less productive each year. This means less food, less health, more people streaminig into Port, and less stability. Less stability leads to poverty, crime, and isolation. By all means, we need to trackle crime - but we need to go after the root causes as well. Preserving (what is left of) the environment is fundamental.
Dear Anonymous, You said it
Dear Anonymous,
You said it yourself. "Why should this be considered a top priority when my country is barely keeping its head above water because of crooked politics..." Frankly, crooked politics and the many missteps of the Haitian government is not something that the comman man can control. It is simply beyond the grasp of the average person to tackle such problems as kidnappings or rape, but it only takes soil, a seed, and a shovel to plant a tree. It is an initiative that anyone, man or women, rich or poor,can take. Imagine if everyone in Haiti ( about 8,000,000 people) decided to plant a tree. Wouldn't that still be making difference, however meager it may seem? The environmental issues in Haiti should not be tossed aside because it only takes a small effort on our part to change the issue. Simply taking the time to put the garbage in the garbage cans is a start. There is no need to be in a political party to do that. I am not saying that the current political and economic situation in Haiti is one that should be ignored but I would rather put my energies on something that will actually progress, something I know will that slowly but surely alter the course on which Haiti is going environmentally. The trurh of the matter is that there will always be crooks in politics. Now, instead of focusing on problems that our Haitian government has been enable to resolve for decades, let us start with the small things. Plant a tree.
Reforestation
I know and understand the devestating toll that de-forestation has raged in Haiti.Although I think that it is important for there to be some sort of replanting program in place...don't you think that Haiti has bigger concerns? Unstable governments, mass killings, rape, and lets not forget the non-existant economic market. I am sorry, for sounding pessimistic but please explain why this should be considered a top priority when my country is barely keeping its head above water because of crooked politics dating back to the revolution.
Post new comment