Something that sets HTRIP apart from many other reforestation projects, especially in Haiti, is its strong, continued partnership with the communities it serves. These communities put in so much of the work needed to build and grow their reforestation plots, that they have a warranted pride and ownership of them.
The HTRIP model includes outreach, training and technical assistance. In this way, HTRIP hopes to build vitality and self-sufficiency among participants and their communities. HTRIP helps local farmers plant tree plots in remote mountain communities. Each community then builds a small tree nursery, voluntarily staffed by project participants. Extension workers visit Haiti monthly to prepare a group of 15-30 trees each on their own land in the next season. HTRIP trains local leaders to direct education sessions, which include literacy training, and to supervise the HTRIP project in each community, building a local capacity.
HTRIP was designed to have lasting impacts with reduced inputs over time. Each year HTRIP will establish new demonstration plots in ten new communities, targeting areas that are higher in the mountains, until we have 80 participating communities. Our long-term relationships with communities will focus on education and capacity building. We envision that a very high proportion of the trees planted will grow to maturity. The trees will eventually be harvested in a multi-year, sustainable manner that will involve replanting to maintain the viability of the plots.
The Friends of HAS Haiti is very pleased with our progress to date. HTRIP is currently working in 30 communities, and recently moved to 10 new communities in the summer of 2009. These communities produced and planted over 200,000 seedlings. We are currently conducting monthly education sessions in 40 communities, to over 1,000 participants.