a427: [Fwd: [cerninfo] INTERNATIONAL REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS,INFORMATION, TECHNICALASSISTANCE APPLYING REFORESTATION EXPERIENCE TOHAITI] (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Yacine Khelladi <yacine@yacine.net>

January 2002

INTERNATIONAL REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS, INFORMATION, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
APPLYING REFORESTATION EXPERIENCE TO HAITI

Please reply to:

Stuart M. Leiderman <leidermn@hypatia.unh.edu>
"Environmental Refugees and Ecological Restoration"
Environmental Response/4th World Project
c/o Natural Resources Department, James 215
University of New Hampshire-Durham 03824 USA
   603.776.0055 leidermn@christa.unh.edu

BACKGROUND:

My work concerns the plight of environmental refugees worldwide and the
need for ecological restoration of damaged homelands.  [See for
example, "Outcasts from Eden" by Nolan Fell, New Scientist Magazine
[UK],
August 31, 1996, reprinted in http://pubpages.unh.edu/~leidermn;
complete
portfolio (900pp) available upon request]

Recently, members of a large alliance of American churches, doctors and
nurses wrote me for help in adding an environmental component to the
medical, social and disaster relief services they have been providing
for
approximately ten years to thousands of impoverished Haitians living in
sugar cane camps in the Dominican Republic.  In total, there are an
estimated million Haitians living in the Dominican Republic under
these conditions; it was explained to me that they are virtually
trapped,
in exile or without national citizenship but many would choose to return
to Haiti if provided with sufficient and relevant education, training
and
employment, and a secure place to live.

The alliance members want to build on my concept of "ecological sweat
equity," where refugees participate in environmental projects in
exchange
for the right to resettle and establish communities on land they restore
to habitability.  Specifically, they propose to recruit Haitians in the
Dominican Republic for an ambitious effort to reforest Haiti.  As you
may
know, Haiti has no more forests to speak of; over time, the country has
been excessively logged for fuelwood and charcoal, and cleared for
farming. This environmental catastrophe has depleted the soil, wrecked
essential ecosystems, seriously displaced the population and destroyed
the
country's self-reliance.  The initial plan is to establish a network
of tree nurseries and worker's communties on land controlled by the
2000-3000 small churches scattered throughout the country.

THE IMMEDIATE NEED:

The alliance members want to study the most successful reforestation
programs worldwide and choose elements that can be applied to Haiti and
what lessons, organization, techniques, etc. would work equally well in
Haiti.

Therefore, I am seeking:

1)  Books, reports, articles, reviews, etc. that describe the history
and
development of reforestation programs, especially grassroots programs,
up
to the present, the details of planning and implementation, financing,
evaluation and staffing...including the incorporation of refugees and
immigrants as workers.

2)  The names, addresses and contact information of people (scientists,
engineers, administrators, teachers, workers, consultants and others)
who
are familiar with or currently involved in reforestation programs who
a) believe that it can be applied to the case of Haiti and b) are
available to advise, comment, evaluate or directly work on this
extremely
difficult but urgent refugees-and-restoration project.

3)  Proposals or suggestions on how to proceed with such a project, and
estimates on funding and staffing requirements, considering the
similarities (lack of forests, harsh climate, etc.) but also the
differences in terrain, culture, economic and political health between
Haiti and project locations in other countries.

A foundation has been established to raise funds for this project and an
operating board is in place to evaluate proposals and secure
professional
expertise for various phases.

Thank you for any helpful response and please excuse the informality of
e-mail.

Regards and best wishes,

Stuart M. Leiderman <leidermn@hypatia.unh.edu>
"Environmental Refugees and Ecological Restoration"
Environmental Response/4th World Project
c/o Natural Resources Department, James 215
University of New Hampshire-Durham 03824