18092: 1,000,000 trees for Haiti? and "Whole Haiti Catalog" (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Stuart M Leiderman <leidermn@cisunix.unh.edu>


A MILLION TREES FOR HAITI, TOO?

here is encouraging news from Honduras of a successful reforestation
project.  the model requires requests from communities who are already
organized for cooperative action in economics, agriculture, environment,
etc.

I know of Sustainable Harvest International [SHI] and their good work in
Central America but I don't know of any projects yet in Haiti.  there is
always the opportunity to begin the first one, so I encourage communities
in Haiti who have the necessary degree of organization and who are ready
for reforestation to contact them.  if they also contact me, I will be
happy to write a letter of support.

ATLAS OF HAITI COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

long-term, I believe there is the need for a systematic atlas of Haiti
that ranks the relative stage(s) of well-being of communities throughout
the country, according to basic environmental, economic, health and other
indices.  with that, the government, churches, citizens organizations and
others will know where to put their time, money and expertise.  my hunch
is that, for various reasons, some parts of Haiti receive the biggest
share of assistance while other areas are ignored or avoided.  I would
appreciate hearing from anyone who would like to help produce this kind
of "Whole Haiti Catalog".

thank you,

Stuart Leiderman
Environmental Response
leidermn@christa.unh.edu
603.776.0055

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Date: Fri, 23 Jan 2004 13:36:43 -0500 (EST)
From: Sustainable Harvest International <info@sustainableharvest.org>
Subject: One-Million Tress and Counting!

Sustainable Harvest International Plants its One-Millionth Tree in
Central America

AZACUALPA, HONDURAS and SURRY, ME - On the cool morning of January 12,
2004, in the community of Pinabete, located in the municipality of
Azacualpa in the District of Santa Bárbara, Honduras, Juan Alberto Pérez
planted the one-millionth tree in the 6-year history of Sustainable
Harvest International. SHI, a 501(c)3 non-profit with U.S. headquarters
in Surry, Maine, has worked with over 670 family farmers in four Central
American countries since 1997.

"I thank God and Sustainable Harvest International for the support
that they have given to all of the families. We feel so proud of this
accomplishment. The tree that was planted was a mahogany that we planted
in a spot close to our community's watershed," said Mr. Pérez.

When asked what motivated him to plant trees on his land, Mr. Pérez
replied, "We motivated ourselves to do this. We saw that the streams that
run by our land were drying up more each day because there were no trees
to shelter them. I spoke to [SHI extension worker] Juan Carlos so that he
would help me and my brothers build a nursery to grow both forest and
fruit trees. That was 3 years ago. Since then, we have planted 11,000
trees."

Founded by Florence Reed, a former Peace Corp volunteer in Panama,
Sustainable Harvest International works with local farmers, cooperatives,
environmental organizations, and indigenous groups that invite SHI into
their communities. SHI extension agents provide these groups with
long-term assistance adopting sustainable land-use practices such as
reforestation, agro-forestry, and organic farming. In so doing, SHI has
converted thousands of acres of degraded land to sustainable uses, thus
saving tens of thousands of acres of tropical forest from the
"slash-and-burn" devastation typical to the region.

In addition to reforestation, Sustainable Harvest International has
helped families in Pinabete establish vegetable gardens to improve family
nutrition, build wood-conserving stoves, construct better chicken coops,
as well as learn organic composting, vermi-composting, and agro-forestry
techniques. With SHI's support, they have also established a community
loan fund, established fishponds for both food and market, built a small
irrigation system, and increased income by diversifying cash crops. For
more information please contact:

Sarah Kennedy
Sustainable Harvest International
81 Newbury Neck Rd. Surry, ME 04684
207.664.0987 (phone)
207.664.0987 (fax)
info@sustainableharvest.org
www.sustainableharvest.org

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