UNEP steps in to help struggling Haiti

An Environmental recovery and sustainable development initiative for Southwest Haiti was released yesterday (January 4, 2011) by UNEP.

The initiative was released in Port-Salut, Haiti by UNEP and partners such as: the Government of Haiti, the Government of Norway, Catholic Relief Services, the Earth Institute at Columbia University and some local non governmental organisations.

The Côte Sud Initiative (CSI) will be implemented over a period of 20 years. Its aims include the recovery and sustainable development of a severely degraded land area of 780 km² - about half the size of Greater London - and a marine area of approximately 500 km².

Ten areas with a population of roughly 205,000 people, will benefit from the programme. It will include reforestation, erosion control, fisheries management, mangrove rehabilitation, small business and tourism development, as well as improved access to water and sanitation, health and education.

Achim Steiner, UNEP Executive Director, said: "Restoring the region's environmental services will be a key step towards restoring a real and long lasting development path for its people and a stepping stone towards a green economy."

He added: "From the Mau forest complex in Kenya to Lake Faguibine in Mali and now in Haiti, UNEP and our partners are determined to demonstrate that large-scale ecosystem restoration is a cost-effective catalyst for overcoming poverty and reducing vulnerability to shocks and natural disasters."

The initiative is made up of US$14 million in grants provided by the Government of Norway, Catholic Relief Services and the Green Family Foundation. The launch of this scheme represents an important milestone for UNEP, which has designed and developed this approach with the Norwegian Government and partners since early 2009.

Erik Solheim, Norway's Minister for Environment and International Development, took part in a launch event in Port-Salut, as part of a three-day tour of the country.

"It is clear that any development in the country needs to be underpinned by the sustainable management of its natural resources. For the south of Haiti we see particular opportunities in tourism, clean energy and sustainable agriculture and are very pleased to support investments in these areas," said Solheim.

Even before the Port-au-Prince earthquake of January 2010, Haiti was known as the poorest, least stable and most environmentally degraded country in the Western Hemisphere.

Severe poverty, food insecurity and disaster vulnerability - strongly interlinked with environmental concerns such as deforestation, soil erosion and land and marine degradation – have had a huge impact on the population's well-being for decades.

The CSI proposes a new approach to addressing these challenges, with a strong focus on aid coordination, national ownership and capacity building of the Government and local partners to address Haiti's growing problems.

The initiative, which is expected to require a budget of US$200 million over 20 years, will involve between 50 and 100 projects, including at least 10 that are expected to last up to five years or more.

In 2011, the focus will be on establishing sound baseline data about the state of local landscapes and seascapes, and on working with local communities and partners to develop and implement practical action.

A CSI office and visitor centre will shortly be set up in Port-Salut.

"The objective of this major, long-term initiative is to demonstrate that sustainable rural development is truly possible - given the right approach," said UNEP's Andrew Morton, the CSI Coordinator. "When the time is right, the lessons learned can be extended to the rest of Haiti" he added.

Author: Charity Knight | Climate Action

Image: newbeatphoto | flickr