Where the Noir and Massif du Nord Mountain ranges meet the Artibonite Plains of Gonaïves, the land is characterised by sparse tree cover and it’s vast, rugged topography.

Historically cloaked in thick forest, the landscape was initially cleared for logging, grazing, and agriculture during the colonial period. In recent years, the intensification of unsustainable charcoal production practices has accelerated degradation of the land, affecting agricultural productivity and thus producing a cycle of food insecurity and poverty.

The Gonaïves Agroforestry projects helps to break this cycle by replenishing the land with bountiful agroforestry, including orange, mango, avocado and moringa trees. Not only does this provide food security and economic opportunity within the local community, the trees protect and restore the soil while increasing biodiversity. When these trees eventually mature, they will produce seeds of their own, returning the forest to a point of natural equilibrium.

The Gonaïves Agroforestry project also conducts farmer training sessions that empower local farmer in with knowledge on grafting techniques, vegetable crop production, natural insecticide, soil conservation, and farm management.