As part of World Environment Day (June 5), the European Union takes the opportunity to renew its commitment to substantially support land restoration projects and actions against desertification carried out by the Haitian Ministry of the Environment, NGOs and urban and rural communities.

The EU recalls that among the initiative it supports in Grande-Anse, a project consisting for the local populations to regenerate mangroves in the Lagon des Huîtres Natural National Park (commune of Belle-Anse). Thanks to this project, mangroves are developing and consequently, flamingos multiply and at the same time the income of the local population.

With the years and the intensive use of natural resources in and around the park, the survival of the oyster lagoon ecosystem and its species was endangered, depriving the local populations of the opportunity to benefit from it.

Thanks to the financial support of the European Union, the local population, with the supervision of the NGO Helvetas and the National Agency for Protected Areas, has managed to restore an environmental balance in the area, allowing fishermen to continue to lead a decent life.

Note that the restoration of terrestrial and marine habitats has enabled the survival of protected species. 100 hectares of mangroves have been restored and the flamingo population has increased from 2 specimens in 2015 to 42 in 2019. 110 hectares of watersheds have also been restored allowing water sources to be recharged.

IH/ iciHaiti