Rebuilding Haiti Through Reforestation

Haiti's tumultuous past has given the country the dubious title of being the poorest country in all of the Americas. Unfortunately, the title of being one of the poorest financially extends into its environmental standing as Haiti is also one of the most deforested countries in the world [the picture to the right is of the border between the Haiti (left) and the Dominican Republic taken from a NASA satellite]. In an article by Beverly Bell entitled An Alternative Environmental Future for Haiti, she examines how the country's complex web of social, economical and political systems have had an adverse affect on its environment and how Haiti Survie is using reforestation as a way to revive the country in all capacities as it rebuilds after the 7.0 earthquake earlier this year.

Forestry Link Roundup: Making The Grade

Here are some of the forestry headlines we have been reading this past week. Have any thoughts? Leave them in the comments!

- The Economist's cover page and special report this week is on forests. It covers everything from the economic and social factors causing deforestation to the path of a sustainable future. [The Economist]

- An "historic milestone" in the forestry carbon market was reached this week as the first carbon credits from a land-use project were verified and issued under the Voluntary Carbon Standard. [Business Green]

- Field notes on the Symposium on Forest Governance Indicators held earlier this month were released. The two-day symposium in Stockholm gathered about 45 participants to advance the development of practical and feasible frameworks for assessing and monitoring the quality of forest governance. [PROFOR]