Environmental
degradation constitutes a core development challenge with serious implications
for Haiti ‘s prosperity. Years of continuous natural resource mismanagement,
civil turmoil, and an unfortunate string of natural disasters have led to
widespread deforestation and structural instability. Among the nation’s most
pressing issues are a lack of sustainable and affordable sources of energy,
improper waste management, and dwindling agricultural production. An important
consequence of this situation is a massive migration from rural areas to the
larges cities of the country. To
overcome this issue and reverse this long trend of destruction, a concerted
national effort is required to reconcile the population with the environment. IDEAL-Haiti uses an integrated program
that aims at restoring the environment through an ecology-based approach. The
underlying principle of this program is that rather than considering as the
primary factor to destroy otherwise healthy systems, people can be seen as
nested within the environment and are able to take action to protect and preserve
all ecosystem services.
IDEAL-Haiti
works with smallholder farmers and youths in remote areas in Haiti to reverse
the alarming degradation of Haiti’s natural ecosystems and increase rural
livelihoods through adoption of sustainable agricultural practices. Our major
partners are the farmers that are constantly struggling to feed a growing population.
We work to strengthen resilience to climate change impacts and increase
productivity.