Despite huge investments, Haiti is still one of the world’s most environmentally damaged nations – 98% of Haiti’s forests have already disappeared and the UN estimates that 30% of the remaining trees will continue to be destroyed each year. Charcoal production is one major cause of Haiti’s ongoing deforestation, as the majority of Haitians use charcoal for cooking fuel. Haiti is regularly exposed to severe hurricanes and the forests that once served as natural buffers have largely disappeared. Any heavy rainfall will easily wash the soil away, leading to landslides and making the land unusable for agriculture.

For this reason, Eden Projects‘ approach to tree planting in Haiti differs slightly from its sister projects in Nepal and Madagascar. The first trees planted in Haiti are fruit trees such as mango, papaya, Barbados cherry and various citrus fruits. These plants simultaneously improve soil quality and provide food for the population. After this first phase, trees including Haitian oak, teak, royal palms and acacia are planted to restore a healthy ecosystem. The project also provides training for teachers in seedling rearing, the knowledge and skills of which they can then pass on to students, paving the way for a better, sustainable future in the long term.

The environmental conditions in many parts of Haiti make growing trees complicated: the soil is often dry and salty, making it difficult for species to firmly take root. Bayawonn is a thorny, bushy shrub that grows naturally and abundantly in Haiti. When trimmed appropriately, it can grow as high as 60 metres and act as the canopy for a new forest. It also improves the soil by absorbing nitrogen from the air and transferring it to the roots. Bayawonn pods are suitable for animal feed and the wood can be used for furniture, carvings, and floors. The gaps between the Bayawonn can be filled with seedlings, which are then cultivated in the region’s nurseries and planted by locals. In a few years, this work will culminate in the return of beautiful, shady forests in the previously deforested and devastated areas.