As part of the activities marking the 30th anniversary of the Ministry of the Environment, the South Departmental Directorate of the Ministry of the Environment, in collaboration with the Biodiversity South project funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), organized an awareness-raising and community engagement activity around the restored site of "Tèt Sous Simon" in the commune of Les Cayes.

This initiative aimed to strengthen youth engagement in biodiversity protection while highlighting the results of the ongoing project on the restoration of farmland, forests, and watersheds in the South.

More than a hundred schoolchildren took part in this educational day. They participated in information workshops, practical planting demonstrations, and a guided tour of the "Tèt Sous Simon" site, a space now lush thanks to the joint efforts of the local population and environmental authorities.

According to Yvens Pascal Sévigné, Agronomist responsible for technical assistance for the project, this activity is a way to place young people at the heart of the solutions. "Schoolchildren are drivers of change. By involving them today, we are preparing a generation capable of taking action to conserve natural resources."

For his part, Jean Marc Chérisiere, Director of the Ministry's South Department, recalled that the "Tèt Sous Simon" site, covering 4.25 hectares, was once degraded. Its restoration was made possible thanks to community mobilization, without external funding. "Today, this space is a model of community reforestation that we want to preserve as an ecological heritage and a site of tourist interest," he explained. He also appealed to the scientific community to document local biodiversity and support conservation efforts.

The aim of this educational activity was to create a lasting connection between the younger generation and nature, and to encourage active and sustainable eco-citizenship at the local level. By highlighting concrete actions on the ground, it illustrates the Ministry's commitment to strengthening synergies between education, the environment, and community development.

IH/ iciHaiti