Bwa-yo - Société Audubon Haiti

Foreword
As part of USAID's continuing efforts to address environmental degradation in
Haiti and in an effort to provide information on selected economically important tree
species, the Office of Economic Growth of USAID/Haiti funded this book: Bwa Yo:
Important Trees ofHaiti.
Much of the information contained in this book has been a result of research and ­
extension activities in agroforestry supported by USAID since 1981. Beginning with the
Agroforestry Outreach Project (1981-1987), through the Agroforestry II (1988-1992)
and presently, the Productive Land Use Systems (PLUS) Project, more than 63 million
trees have been planted as part of developing environmentally-sound farming systems
in Haiti. Today, over 250,000 farmers, approximately 35 percent of Haiti's small
farmer's, are reaping the benefits of the trees they planted since 1981. Most significantly,
this includes the conservation of fertile top soil and an increase in wood assets
as a store of value.
The efforts of several institutions are greatly appreciated for their contribution to
the information contained in this book and their continued commitment to improving
Haiti's productive natural resources base: the Ministry ofAgriculture Natural Resources
and Rural Development (MARNDR), the South-East Consortium for International
Development (SECID), Auburn University, International Resources Group (IRG), Pan
American Development Foundation (PADF), CARE, World Bank, and FAO.
It is our sincere hope that this book would ,serve as a valuable reference tool to all
those concerned with the· critical role of trees in agricultural production and environmental
management in Haiti.
Hyatt Abdul Wahab
Chief
Office ofEconomic Growth
US Agency for International Development/Haiti
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