Being the simple task of reforesting a country
An International Service Project of
The Rotary Club of the Pelhams

The gravest human disaster looming in the future of the Western Hemisphere is the deforestation of Haiti.  The world was put on notice in May, 2004, following heavy rains across Hispañola which left about 3,000 dead and thousands more cowering under the threat of disease outbreaks.

Haiti, for a myriad of reasons is unable to break away from charcoal as the principle fuel for cooking.  Charcoal requires trees to produce, and the growing population of Haiti has been cutting down its trees much faster than they can grow.  The result is deforestation, or desertification, the removing of all the vegetation leaving the soil open to erosion and an ever-looming environmental disaster.  Click here for an in depth, multi media, presentation by The Sun Sentinal, a Ft. Lauderdale, Florida newspaper. 

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/custom/interactivefeature/sfl-haiti-lava.htmlstory

The rains that killed 3,000 was not a hurricane, or even a tropical storm, just a bad bunch of weather that hit a vulnerable place.  There are about a dozen hurricanes and tropical storms that form in the Western Atlantic, Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico each year.  Usually, at least one affects Haiti to some degree.  In 1998, Category five, Hurricane Mitch stalled off Honduras and a three-day deluge of rain fell upon the land; the resulting mudslides, and floods, killed about 25,000 people.  Haiti’s large population, and advanced desertification put it at risk for a far greater calamity.

Why should you care?  Other than guilt, what does this Haitian situation mean to you?   The economic plight of Haiti does now, and will in the future, affect everyone in America. 

First, if Haiti starves, America will throw money, your taxes, at the problem.  America has a big heart, but money alone will not solve this problem.  This problem will need to be solved, tree by tree, village by village. 

Second, if Haiti starves, Haitians come to America.  Haitians are classic American Immigrants, they risk their lives to get here, they come with nothing but a burning desire for a better life, they educate their kids, and they move forward and upwards.  Haitians make great Americans, but America in general, and South Florida in particular, cannot absorb the numbers that want to come here.   And thus we get these heartbreaking pictures of our Coast Guard interdicting Immigrant boats and returning the passengers to Haiti. 

Third, if Haitians with the drive, energy and resources to immigrate leave, who is left to teach, doctor, and run Haiti?  The best and brightest are needed in Haiti not risking their lives on these one-way boats to America.

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Bound for the USA - the end result.

So the simple goal of the Mango Tree Project is to reforest Haiti.  Only by restoring the forest cover of the country can Haiti avoid being washed into the sea.  Why Mangos?  Mangos taste great, the trees are easy to grow, and mature quickly.  A tree that produces fruit is more valuable to people than one that just lends shade.  The Mango Tree Project’s plan is to bring commercial mangos to Haiti to make these trees an export crop also.

What is the use of planting thousands of mango trees in a country that cuts trees down for charcoal?   Are we just fueling the next generation of destruction?   No, we have Rotary partners, in place, providing other parts of the equation.  Solar Ovens offer a renewable source of cooking that eliminates, or greatly reduces, dependence of charcoal.  Since there are villages already embracing the end concept of our project, I think we should target those villages for mango trees.  The other critical part is water.  First, access to potable water is very limited, and second the trees will need to be watered to get started.  Solar powered wells are

                                                                            being installed to provide these two needs

http://www.sunoven.com/rotary.asp

The Haitian Mango Tree Project

Tasked with sponsoring mango seedlings in Haiti, and improving the commercial quality level of the crop, to begin re-foresting the country.  A first year goal of ???? trees is set,   second year ???, and a third year of ???? trees.  Do you have any idea how many trees it takes to re-forest a country?

 Partners to include:  Miami Rotary, specifically any Haitian groups.  Our district will be the sponsor.  Haitian clubs should be involved and we should be able to get some French clubs involved.

Various tasks that need doing:

1)                  Money!  Mango Bango Gala to raise money for.

2)                  Obtaining cutting from American trees.

3)                  Sponsoring trees in Haiti.

4)                  Grafting good quality trees to sprouted root stock

5)                  Distributing and grafting cuttings

6)                  Follow-up on growth  

7)                  Looking forward to future plantings of native trees

First steps:

1)                  Gather committee to assist and to seek council backing

2)                  Contact Richard Sejours in NM

3)                  Look for corporate sponsors.

4)                  Tropical Ag site in Homestead about shipping cuttings.

5)                  State Dept about all the problems.

6)                  How do we distribute?

A.                             Cannot be super commercial or we loose the help of mango growers in SF who will be needed for the grafting and depend on Mangos as a crop.

B.                             Concentrate on a close geographic area so progress can be seen.

C.                             Have to be accessible and stable.

D.                             Trees must have a local sponsor, or guardian, or owner.

7)                  Gather articles about deforestation in Haiti.

8)                  What aid agencies are working in Haiti already that we can partner with?

Bardy Jones

914-738-4073

ibistours@aol.com