Timote Georges serves as the Field Representative in Haiti for Trees for the Future (www.treeftf.org), a non-profit reforestation organization headquartered in Silver Spring, Maryland. Timote and I found each other through Kathleen McLaughlin-a member of the BuildaBridge staff-about eight months ago while planning the Diaspora of Hope art camp. Timote and Kathleen were both graduates of the University of Peace and Kathleen had made all alumni aware of the art program in Port au Prince. Though Timote was not an artist himself, he believed in the project and was solely responsible for recruiting all the Haitian artists.
I was eager to learn more about Timote’s work, not only because of its importance to Haiti’s future, but also because the Youth and Young Adult Summer Mission Program had identified reforestation as one of its projects. Haiti was once a beautiful island covered with trees. Beginning with colonization, the country was gradually stripped of its many resources including trees. Charcoal has remained the primary cooking fuel through the ages further depleting the trees. In 1929, 60% of Haiti was forested. By 2004, 2% remained wooded.
Trees are an integral part of the ecosytem and environmental health of the planet. Some of their contributions include: the preservation of water sources, the critically important retention of soil, a reduced threat of landslides and increased population of flora and fauna. It therefore goes without saying that the work of Trees for the Future and similar organizations is vital to Haiti.
Trees for the Future is engaged in work throughout Haiti. However, in the interest of time and easy access, Timote decided to take me to their operation in Arcahaie. Arcahaie is a small village along the Northern coast of the gulf and about two hours from Port au Prince. This community is very active in charcoal trading. As a point of historical interest, Arcahaie is also the birthplace of the Haitian flag. On May 18, 1803, members of the revolutionary army, led by General Jean-Jacques Dessalines, ripped the white section out of the French flag and introduced the blue and red Haitian flag during the final months of the slave rebellion.
It was a beautiful drive, especially since the ocean was in view most of the time. Surprisingly, I had not yet had a chance to visit the ocean, so this was a treat. First, we viewed the after effects of the four hurricanes that had struck Haiti in Fall 2008. This effected access for the local inhabitants as well as the farming industry. We then visited the primary nursery for the area. A major planting of 10,000 trees had recently occurred. Nevertheless, the small grouping of seedlings and remaining section of palm structure used for shading, gave me a sense of the program. A hand made irrigation trough had been created near the nursery, servicing it and the many banana trees in the area.
Following our time in the nursery, we headed north to Mitan, where we visited a dear friend of Timote. Alex and his wife greeted us warmly and we enjoyed a couple hours of relaxed time with them. Alex and his family spent about 40 years in the Chicago area. He worked for the Transit Authority and also had his own business that took him to both North and South Chicago. Once retired, Alex returned to Haiti where he uses his pension to serve his community. Though he has six of his own children, he has sponsored countless others in education. He also dreams of completing a clinic just down the road from his home.
The day had deepened my understanding of the challenges of deforestation and the exciting way that Trees for the Future was engaging the local community in effecting positive change. Timote’s goal is to plant 1 million trees in 2009. I hope that the Summer Mission helps significantly in moving him toward that goal.
No comments:
Post a Comment