Our Mission & History
Haiti is closer to losing its rich diversity of plants, animals, and other species than nearly any other country in the world.
It is now concentrated primarily in the one percent of original forests that remain, and many of those species are found only in Haiti. These last forests are ‘hot spots’ of biodiversity, being destroyed because there is no effective mechanism to protect them. It is truly a mass extinction about to happen which will have environmental consequences. Removal of forests causes springs and streams to disappear, increases flooding, and reduces the potential for recovery of forests and biodiversity in the future. The last forests must be saved quickly because 90% of the mountains in Haiti already have lost all of their primary forests. The current threats to Haiti’s biodiversity are also threats to Haiti’s people. The forces that are destroying the biodiversity of Haiti are impacting Haitians through the loss of watershed and water resources, increased danger from flooding during rains, and creation of deserts in previously fertile agricultural areas.
The mission of Haiti National Trust is to save and protect the environment and biodiversity of Haiti for future generations.
We identify biodiversity hotspots in need of protection, create national parks, and work closely with local communities and the government to manage those land and marine areas. As environmental stewards, we work towards ending deforestation and using a diversity of native trees for reforestation. We involve local communities in all activities, enhancing their livelihoods and education, and increasing their sustainability. Our work helps Haiti to mitigate the effects of climate change by simultaneously locking up carbon in trees and roots and creating a wetter and cooler environment. The improved watershed also results in fewer droughts and floods, and provides Haitians with more drinking water.
