Green Leaves Environmental Center - Haiti

A simple plan for lasting change

It will be a long hard road for the people of Haiti as they work to rebuild their beloved homeland. Fortunately, they are not alone. The outpouring of support has been unprecedented and the world is ready and willing to lend a hand. Our project will provide immediate support to displaced Haitians seeking to relocate outside of Port au Prince and long term support for rebuilding a sustainable and prosperous Haiti.

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Reports

• USAID Summary Market Assessment of Promising Watershed Economic Opportunities (PDF)
• USAID Private Financing for Watershed Stewardship in Haiti (PDF)

Project Background

The Montrouis Watershed has received significant investment in research and training in the three years immediately prior to the earthquake in January 2010. Several studies conducted by USAID and independent contractors have concluded that the watershed presents an excellent opportunity to implement agricultural, energy, and land reforms necessary to create a sustainable future for Haiti. A report conducted for USAID by Terra Global Capital has identified the watershed as "A unique carbon sequestration opportunity" that could demonstrate economically viable afforestation and reforestation in Haiti and become Haiti's First Certified Carbon Sequestration Project The proposed Green Leaves Environmental Center will build on past accomplishments and research to support a sustained effort to support resettlement of displaced persons and restore the Montrouis watershed.

Figure 1 Montrouis project watershed location on a relief map showing the original vegetation biomes of Haiti

Primary Project Partners:

Operation Green Leaves, Architecture for Humanity, and Community Collaborations International are working with local government, community organizations, and international NGOs to implement the project. OGL has a long history of working on the local level in the Montrouis Watershed and organizing Haitian partners, AFH brings the knowledge and expertise needed to create a safe and functional environmental center that meets project goals. CC International has organized and implemented human service, disaster relief, and environmental projects for over eighty universities in seven countries.

The 30 plus acre project site has been donated to Operation Green Leaves and has been inspected by project partners.

Partners

Primary Project Attributes

• Located one hour from Port au Prince on a well maintained primary road.
• Located near the town of Arcahaie (est pop. over 100,000). and in the Montrouis Watershed which has been the focus of USAID Economic Development for a Sustainable Environment project Développement Economique pour un Environnement Durable (DEED)
• A report conducted for USAID by Terra Global Capital has identified the watershed as "A unique carbon sequestration opportunity" that could demonstrate economically viable afforestation and reforestation in Haiti and become Haiti's First Certified Carbon Sequestration Project .
• The project builds on decades of community organization and land use agreements already in place and is fully supported by local organizations; Arcahaie Mayor Jean Yvon Nestor, Assistant Mayors Pierre Julio Joseph and Jean Wilson, Dr. Frantz Casseus Clinic in Arcahaie, Pastor Emy Etienne, has vocational school, two churches. Joel Olivier, organization to  assist in Arcahaie, ADCAH, Ex-Mayor of Arcahaie Luckner Normil, Ex-Mayor of Arcahaie Kesner Fleury.
• The project addresses the needs of displaced residents for permanent relocation.
• The success of the project will create hundreds of sustainable jobs for local community members and relocated persons.
• The project will engage university students and programs from the US and elsewhere as partners providing ongoing sustainable support and expertise.

Figure 2: Green Leaves Environmental Center site and existing buildings

The center will provide a permanent local resource that will focus on developing a nursery and seed program that supports actions and reforms reccomended by previously completed baseline studies and community workshops.

Specifically, a report titled Assessment of Watershed Market Opportunities (PDF) documents the completion of a quantitative baseline assessment of the Montrouis Watershed focusing on physical, agricultural and institutional capacities with recommended activities developed by the baseline study team and a watershed-level stakeholder workshops held in early 2008. The prioitized list of project activities below was generated by this assessment.

Priority Projects

• PA-1: Intensification of high-value production on vulnerable hillside and valley systems.
• PA-2: Intensification of high-value production on irrigated plains with transfer of labor from hillside zones.
• PA-3: Intensification of permaculture systems in high altitude zones
• PA-4: Promotion of commercial fruit tree planting, either in orchard-like plots or on small farmer plots.
• PA- 5: Development of apiculture in association with flowering tree production.
• PA-6: Development of fish farming as an alternative source of revenue to farming vulnerable hillsides.

"Pilot" Projects

• Pilot PA-1: Demonstration trials of jatropha.
• Pilot PA-2: Develop a milk processing MSE to increase household livestock revenues and encourage improved fodder cultivation practices on hillsides that contribute to soil conservation.
• Pilot PA-3: Trial production of dryland herbs and spices.
• Pilot PA-4: Trial production of flowers for hotel market and eventual export

The project activities outlined above will also support the development of the Montrouis Watershed as Haiti's first Certified Carbon Sequestration Project. A November 2009 study conducted by Terra Global Captital entitled Private Financing for Watershed Stewardship in Haiti A Unique Carbon Sequestration Opportunity . The team found the most promising area with potential for carbon sequestration is the reforestation of upland and hillsides in the Montrouis watershed with multi-purpose trees like Moringa and fruit trees, Jatropha, and potentially shade-grown coffee. The Green Leaves Environmental Center will provide sustained and ongoing support to implement these recommendations and document results.

In conclusion, the Green Leaves Environmental Center project provides a central location from which local residents and displaced persons resettling in the Montrouis Watershed area can be supported in developing sustainable livelihoods, implementing reforestation projects and agricultural reforms, and receiving training and support to implement these reforms. The project is designed to create employment for local community members and displaced persons implementing recommended project activities. Additional support will be provided by the sustained involvement of college and university programs interested in supporting Haiti's recovery.

Steven Boisvert, Director CC International, collaborations@communitycollaborations.org 212 208 2522 Revised: July 26, 2010