Trees are Life | Pyebwa se lavi! Youth for the Development of Cyvadier, Haiti

Haiti’s severe deforestation problemThis satellite image shows the border between Haiti (left) and the Dominican Republic (right) .

An estimated 98% of Haiti’s trees have been chopped down to make charcoal which people use for cooking or sell to make money for food.

The erosion caused by deforestation leads to landslides, road washouts, and coastal water pollution.

Youth from Cyvadier careIn 2005, youth from Cyvadier, near Jacmel, wanted to help do something about the deforestation crisis.

Cyvadier is on the southeastern coast of Haiti near Jacmel. It is a beautiful area known for wonderful artists and old architecture.

The huge earthquake on January 12, 2010 caused heavy damage in the area.

Cyvadier youth start a tree nurseryWith help from a U.S. organization called Konbit Pou Ayiti / KONPAY, they formed Jeunes pou Developman Syvadier (JDS) or Youth for the Development of Cyvadier.

Soon after they started their own tree nursery and began trips into the steep mountains nearby to plant thousands and thousands of trees.

This image shows the tree nursery now, in 2010. Guypson Catalis, one of the original leaders, is now a college student working on his degree in environmental engineering! He still helps coordinate the project.

Photograph © Jeff Abbott and Michael Adams 2010

Ready to plant new treesMore than 40-50 young people in the community help grow and plant the trees.

Here is a group of youth from the community - young and old, small and tall - lining up for the hike into the mountains where they will plant trees cultivated in the nursery.

Photograph © Jeff Abbott and Michael Adams 2010

Combating erosion with thousands and thousands of new treesHere’s the group on the mountainside planting and creating protection for their new trees.

JDS youth have planted nearly 50,000 trees so far and want to do 80,000 by the end of this year.

Photographs © Jeff Abbott and Michael Adams 2010

To Learn More

• Watch this short 7-minute video clip about the environmental situation in Haiti NY Times: Legacy of Disaster

• Visit the KONPAY website at www.konpay.org