Lambi Fund of Haiti and Green Belt Movement Partner to Plant 1 Million Treees in Haiti

PRLog (Press Release) – Jul 23, 2008 – Haiti’s contribution to the world includes being the first black republic in the world (and the first country in the Western hemisphere to abolish slavery completely) and being the native land of Jean Baptiste Pointe du Sable who is credited and recognized as being the founder of Chicago. Despite its rich history and vibrant Haitian art, deforestation and economical and political oppression severely threatens the country. Described by one recent U.N. report as “one of the most degraded countries in the world” less than one percent of Haiti’s forests remain as a result of deforestation, leaving many to call Haiti a Caribbean desert. The critical issue of deforestation has caused periodic flooding most recently from 2004’s tropical storm Jeanne, which left over 3,000 Haitians dead in floods and mudslides. Other environmental issues such as climate change, global warming, and soil erosion not only threatens Haiti but the world as a whole. Recognizing this pressing global issue, Lambi Fund of Haiti and the Green Belt Movement has created a partnership to plant one million trees in Haiti over the next two to three years.

The grassroots partnership between the two non-profits implements a reforestation project that not only plants one million trees on the island but also creates solidarity between Kenya and Haiti to share best practices. Since Kenya's reality is far different from that of Haiti, the reforestation effort will consist of educating Kenyans about Haiti's situation. Likewise, Lambi Fund’s trip to Kenya will teach them about their own approaches and best practices, and both countries will use the experiences to develop strategies to approach Haiti's realities. Over the past 20 years, the U.S. Agency for International Development has planted 60 million trees in Haiti, but since 71% of the energy used in Haiti comes from charcoal, the residents are left to chop down 10 to 20 million trees each year just to make and sell charcoal for food and other uses. Therefore, the partnership will also implement a mutual exchange program to organize tree-planting in Haiti and provide training and technical assistance to the country’s grassroots leaders so that all funded communities plant at least 10,000 trees. Ultimately, the financial support of donors and social change philanthropists will strengthen the reforestation movement and help exceed the goal of planting one million trees in Haiti within the next two to three years.

Lambi Fund of Haiti’s mission is to assist the popular democratic movement in Haiti and provide financial resources, training, and technical assistance to peasant-led community organizations that promote the social and economic empowerment of the Haitian people. Their programs focus on sustainable development, community micro-credit, animal husbandry, restoring environmental integrity, and organizational and leadership training. Founded by Kenyan Nobel Peace Prize winner, Wangari Maathai, The Greenbelt Movement works through networks of rural women and has planted over thirty million trees across Kenya since 1977.

For more information and to become a financial donor to the partnership, please visit www.LambiFund.org or email info@LambiFund.org.

Contact:

Fabiola Fleuranvil of Blueprint Creative Group
for Lambi Fund of Haiti
(404) 437-0078
Fabiola@BlueprintCreativeGroup.com
www.BlueprintCreativeGroup.com