The USAID Reforestation Project is a five-year initiative aimed at addressing environmental degradation and tree cover loss in the Nord and Nord-Est Departments of Haiti. The project’s primary objective is to restore environmental services and support domestic and international efforts to improve food security and resilience. The project area is divided into two regions, with the Cap-Haitien office covering the watersheds of Haut Cap, Grande Rivière du Nord, and Trou du Nord, and the Ouanaminthe office covering the watersheds of Marion and Jassa river, as well as the commune of Capotter within the watershed of the Massacre River.
The project has made significant progress in FY20, including the completion of a baseline resilience survey. The survey, conducted across five communes, provided a quantitative baseline of household resilience capacities and assets. The results of the survey have allowed the project to adapt its strategic approach, focusing on highland communities, which are typically poorer and more dependent on agriculture and tree cutting for livelihoods. The project has also prioritized building social capital within and among groups to increase capacity to cope with shocks and stresses.
Over 1,088,000 trees were planted, including fruit, forest, and mangrove species, with over two-thirds in the harder-to-access highlands. The project employed adaptive tree planting techniques and overcame climatic and economic shocks to achieve this goal. The project also established nursery structures near planting sites to improve seedling handling and techniques.
The project has also increased household livestock resilience through improved animal health and feed availability. Partnerships were established with livestock associations to create nine demonstration plots for practical training and seed bank for farmers. These plots allowed farmers to learn how to plant and manage forage crops, which they can use to feed their livestock. The project also installed hay production units near each demonstration plot, resulting in over 75 MTs of hay produced for the benefit of over 600 farmers.
Additionally, the project collaborated with the Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Rural Development to undertake a far-reaching deworming campaign that benefited over 51,000 heads of livestock owned by 13,000 farmers. This intervention aims to protect livestock assets for economic and livelihood purposes and contribute to reducing pressure on forest resources.
The project has also promoted interplanting or association of seasonal crops and trees to establish agroforestry systems. These traditional household gardens, or jaden lakou, include fruit trees, fruit trees, and forage to feed livestock. The project has found that agroforestry increases the survival rate of seedlings planted, as farmers monitor their young trees during routine maintenance of seasonal crops, at no additional cost.
A blended finance model was also established to reduce demand for charcoal and strengthen value chains. The project engaged the private sector to attract investments in converting households from charcoal to Liquefied Gas (LPG), creating added value from existing and newly transplanted trees. A catalytic grant of $120,000 was provided to FERRE Haiti S.A., a subsidiary of a stoves manufacturer, to support this initiative.
The project has also strengthened and expanded its partnerships with cooperative federations, such as RECCOCARNO and FECCANO, to promote agroforestry practices and diversify coffee and cacao plantations with crops and other species. This has had a positive impact on the landscape approaches and income diversification sources for farmers living on charcoal production and wood-based products.
The project will continue to strengthen and expand these techniques in FY21 to assist more farmers, improve the productivity of depleted farmlands, and expand tree cover in vulnerable landscapes.