Trees for the future monthly report
Bethel (Cabaret) /Haiti
The main activities during this past reporting period are:
Nursery maintenance: The rehabilitation works at the nursery of bethel summarizes watering seedlings, preparing the substrate for filling polyethylene bags, sowing of certain species particularly oak, coffee, Prunus sp, Psidium guajava.
Agricultural service in Bethel: A meeting was conducted with the farmers in the area to explore the possibilities of distribution of bean seeds (red variety) during periods of the fourth quarter of the year. Farmers are expecting TREES support on that matter.
Monitoring visits planting: visits have been conducted regularly to ensure that seedlings planted manage and to motivate the beneficiaries to take care of
Meeting with the Woman’s group: We worked with the womens association that is involved and highly motivated in development activities in the area. This basic organization is called (GFVB = groupman Fanm Vanyan Bethel). The next year the members of the women associations will be trained on alternative income generating activities such as farming, processing and preservation of fruits, vegetable crops, etc. These activities will increase their income and even without improving the nutrition of different members of their families.
Tree Plantation vs animal husbandry: Free grazing animals is one of the major constraints to the success of reforestation projects in Haiti because that allows animals to eat the trees. This challenge has encouraged some goat farmers of the area create parks for animals to better manage against some predators and reduce the risk of destruction of our tree planting.
The main activities at the community of Bethel for the third quarter of 2013 consists of:
Plans for the Fourth Quarter consists of:
Trees for the Future's biggest challenge during this reporting period is the lack of rainfall to sustain the trees after outplanting. Therefore, we are still waiting for the appropiate level of rainfall that can reach a level of sustainability for the plants to survive being outplanted on each individual farmer's properties. Despite the ongoing drought, Trees for the Future has been able to continue teaching the various agroforestry techniques such as:
2) Assisted natural regeneration
4) Erosion control
5) Bareroot nursery establishment and maintence
More over the species that Trees for the Future has supplied to the community groups are:
1) Morenga olefeira
2) Cassia senna
3) Swietenya macrophylla and mahogaony
4) Cedrela odorata
5) Catalpa longitissima
Despite the challenges with the drought, the recipients have a better understanding of the importance of community participation in the success of objectives. The farmers are showing more enthusiasm to plant trees especially fast-growing and multipurpose species. The community leaders have an increase in capacity to mobilize all members of the community for the project activities. The beneficiaries have a better understanding of the importance of trees for the natural environment, water conservation, and soil fertility.
The activities planned for the next reporting period are based on the availability of sustainable rainfall. If there is enough rain, the group members will transfer the trees and plant on thier land. The farmers will also learn to prepare thier land and the nurseries to minimize the damages from the upcoming hurricane season. Furthermore, the activities will also include;
1) Rehabilitation of the nurseries
2) Training/workshop for communities
3) Follow up in the previous tree plantations
4) Nursery maintenance
5) Agriculture service (in field technical support to farmers)
6) Community meetings to discuss about problems and ways to tackle them
7) Planning of the second tree planting of the year (meeting people and visiting possible sites of transplantation, preparation of sites)
8) Tree planting campaign +follow up on the tree plantations (replacing those trees lost during the first season planting)
Despite the drought, Trees for the Future is continuing to empower the community groups to increase thier capacity to improve thier enviornment while increasing thier crop yields. The ultimate goal is to train the community members to a level in which they can go from subsistence agriculture to producing cash crops for markets. Thank you for your time, Im looking forward to any opportunity to further discuss this project.