Ecological Restoration in a Failed State: A Case of Community-Based Agroforestry in Rural Haiti

Background/Question/Methods

Climate change disproportionately impacts low-income developing countries that lack the capacity to respond adequately to shocks. Once known as the “Pearl of the Antilles” for its natural resources, Haiti is now often described as one of the most environmentally degraded and food-insecure nations in Latin America and the Caribbean and thus, is one of the most vulnerable island states in the world to climate change despite being a small contributor to global environmental change. Deforestation, one of the country’s main drivers of land degradation, is linked back to early colonial and post-independence periods from 1697 to 1934. The dominant discourse of Haiti’s deforestation problem, however, tends to be disconnected from its historical roots characterized by foreign exploitation and unjust international intervention.

Results/Conclusions

While agroforestry provides ecological and economic benefits, little is known about the long-term livelihood outcomes of agroforestry interventions in Haiti. Using the Community Capitals Framework (CCF), this study investigated multiple dimensions of agroforestry outcomes in practicing communities and compared them to communities not practicing agroforestry, in reference to a community-based agroforestry program initiated by the Haiti Timber Reintroduction Program (HTRIP). Data were collected using qualitative research methods of in-depth interviews and focus groups. The results indicate that community agroforestry makes positive contributions to all community capitals– some (social, human, financial, natural, cultural) more than others (built, political). Women and members of the youth were empowered to lead community agroforestry efforts all while residents’ identities grew to include a shared interest in regreening and restoring their communities.