Haiti Timber Re-Introduction Program (HTRIP)
Ninety-eight percent of Haiti has been deforested due to logging for timber, slash-and-burn agriculture, and the cutting of trees to make charcoal. Now, Haiti, once known for its lush plant life and mahogany forests, has lost most of its natural forest cover and has severely impoverished water resources. Strategic tree planting will increase topsoil recovery and water infiltration, and reduce frequency and severity of flooding.
The Haiti Timber Reintroduction Project (HTRIP), a project of the Friends of HAS Haiti, assists local farmers to plant tree plots in remote mountain communities. Each community then builds a small tree nursery, voluntarily staffed by project participants. The HTRIP model includes outreach, training and technical assistance to build vitality and self-sufficiency among participants and their communities.
The overarching goal of HTRIP is to plant one million trees in Haiti by 2016. HTRIP hopes to sustain:
- Improved agricultural output
- Income and food sources for participants
- Improved environmental services for downstream communities
- Increased habitat for wildlife species.
