JUST ONE Tree is delighted to announce it has added two sites in Haiti to its roster of reforestation projects and will be working with ‘on the ground’ partners to plant the trees.
The first of the two sites – both managed by Eden Reforestation Projects – is a plot of 25,000 mangroves located in Aquin West Bay on the southern coast of the country. It will provide long-term protection and restoration of this once highly degraded landscape and vital fishing ground. The local community will also be supported by being employed in planting and protecting the forest.
Amanda Bronkhorst, founder of JUST ONE Tree: “The area has around 100,000 inhabitants, many of whom rely on fishing for their livelihoods. Supporting and protecting the mangroves will help to ensure there are places for larval fish and invertebrates to mature, securing the coral reefs of tomorrow – and the fishing catches of the local community.”
The second site is located on Ile A Vache, a small island lying off the southwest coast of Haiti and home to roughly 14,000 Haitians, nearly all of whom rely on fishing and agriculture for their livelihoods.
“We aim to plant over 308,000 trees within an 800-hectare plot over the coming five years,” said Amanda. “This will support the local community with agricultural education, training and sustainable incomes through the reforestation process while helping to protect its terrestrial and marine ecosystems.”
Haiti mangroves are home to 13 endangered species, including the West Indian manatee, the American crocodile and the Atlantic ocean Sea turtle.
“As with all our projects, we’re putting people at the very heart of them,” said Amanda. “We’re not just helping to employ local community members to plant our trees, we’re supporting them long-term to protect our forests from wildfires, illegal logging and other threats as well as to monitor them so that they thrive to maturity and beyond.
“This will make sure that the mangrove replanting is sustainable and enhances the lives of the community at the same time.”
