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...

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...

(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...

(French version below) In a first for Haiti, a mountain in the southwest of the country has been purchased on January 18th to preserve some of the last original forest and rare species threatened with extinction. Approximately 500 hectares of Morne Grand Bois, including the highest areas, were purchased by Société Audubon Haiti for Haiti National Trust. “This is a new approach to conservation in Haiti that we think will work” says Haitian businessman Philippe Bayard, the CEO of both non-profit organizations. There are at least 68 species of vertebrates on Grand Bois including some found nowhere else in the...

Temple University, College of Science and Technology (Press Release) Loss of more than 99 percent of primary, virgin forests in Haiti is triggering an ongoing mass extinction of reptiles, amphibians, and other species. Read the full article here: EurekaAlert

New images of destruction from Hurricane Matthew in southwest Haiti taken by our Haiti Trust team. On Monday (17 October) we flew over southwest Haiti to survey hurricane damage to the communities surrounding Grand Bois National Park, and took these images showing flooding still affecting communities in the region, with fallen trees and others stripped of leaves. The eye of the hurricane passed through this region where we work. Photos taken along the road near Port Salut also show the impact of the storm, with overturned cars and destroyed houses. Clearly many people in this area were affected and are...

We are pleased to announce the establishment of a long-awaited national trust fund for Haiti’s environment and biodiversity. Haiti has a rich diversity of species, many found nowhere else in the world, but which are now threatened with extinction. Losing this national treasure would be not only a great cultural loss for the Haitian people, but it would also cause suffering by its impact on the water resources, agriculture, and economy. We are determined not to let this happen. Please join our effort in protecting the last forests and biodiversity of Haiti. Philippe Bayard, President and Chief Executive OfficerDr. S....