Anderson Jean, who served for three years as the field biological survey coordinator with SociétéAudubon Haiti (SAH), a sister organization of Haiti National Trust wins 2022 Stanford Bright Award!Anderson came along on most of the expeditions that led to the creation of Haiti National Trust. “[…] Haiti’s native species are gravely threatened in part by habitat loss due to widespreaddeforestation, which dates to the colonial era when land was cleared for the coffee, sugar, andtimber industries, but has continued in recent decades. One study estimates that less than 1% ofHaiti’s original primary forest remains intact.“There is much value in what endures, as well...

Amid conflict and chaos, a reforestation project of HNT surges ahead in Haiti
Haiti is in profound crisis again. The Caribbean nation, occupying the western third of the island of Hispaniola is suffering from an escalating bout of political instability, following the assassination of Prime Minister Jovenel Moïse in 2021; just last month, another prominent politician, Eric Jean Baptiste, was shot dead. Add to that an expanding cholera outbreak and violent gangs blockading so many streets that the current government of Ariel Henry, the acting president and PM, is pleading for international intervention to help reopen vital supply routes to the impoverished populace. All this in a nation facing down formidable environmental crises,...

Haiti National Trust hires local community members to plant native species to restore Grand Bois National Park shrinking forests
In a moment in history for Haiti marred by social and political upheaval and sustained environmental disasters, Re:wild partner Haiti National Trust (HNT) is highlighting a small win that has been helping bring some stability and hope to local communities in and around Grand Bois National Park. To combat deforestation in the park and with the help of hired community members, HNT has planted over 30,000 seedlings and plant cuttings in the last five months, already nearing their original goal of 50,000 planted this year and exceeding original expectations. Read the full article from Rewild and the blog about Hope and healing in...

Haiti National Trust and CIAT Visit Belize on Conservation Study Tour

Main office for Haiti National Trust opens in Petionville, Haiti

German funding from Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund helps protect Grand Bois National Park
As part of a grant initiated in October 2020, the German aid organization Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund (ASB) is supporting the efforts of Haiti National Trust (HNT) to protect the forests, biodiversity, and livelihoods of the residents on Grand Bois mountain in southwestern Haiti. We are working alongside the Haitian non-governmental organization FEODITI (Federation of Development Organizations of Tiburon). Our efforts are mostly above 1000 meters elevation in Grand Bois National Park, and in the nearby village of Sevré on the Tiburon River. Our work in Grand Bois National Park involves forest restoration using native trees of the region. First, we remove invasive...

Meet our new executive director
Today, we are excited to welcome Ms. Anne-Isabelle Bonifassi as the new executive director of Haiti National Trust. Anne-Isabelle, who has an MBA and is fluent in Haitian Creole, French, and English, joins us with two decades of experience in the Haitian business world, especially in operational management. Her educational background in biology and agronomy is also relevant to the work she will be doing. Anne-Isabelle will oversee all programmatic and administrative work of HNT, and build an effective organization that achieves its mission to protect the biodiversity of Haiti. She will develop government, donor, and other stakeholder relationships as...

Haiti National Trust Makes Declaration of Forest Rights on World Environment Day 2020
(Spanish and French version below) Preamble Considering that the life that appeared on our planet billions of years ago is one and indivisible. Considering that all organisms and living beings have a common origin and have become differentiated in the course of evolution. Considering that any organism or living being has natural rights and that every plant and animal ecosystem has special rights. Considering that the contempt, even the simple ignorance of these natural rights causes serious attacks on the biological balance of the forest ecosystems essential for life and lead man to commit crimes against the forest and the...