Saturday at Diplomatic lounge of the Toussaint Louverture International Airport, President Michel Martelly, accompanied by Jean Francois Thomas, the Minister of Environment, Achim Steiner, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) officially announced the launch of the Campaign of aerial seeding in the south, in the presence of Ms. Sandra Honoré, the Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations, of the Director of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Representatives of UNESCO, Norway, Canada, and Inter-American Development Bank.

 

According to studies of Cuban experts in reforestation and Haitian experts, aerial seeding is the only method that will curb the environmental degradation in the mountains inaccessible.

 

Through this initiative, 133 million seed of Cedar, Mahogany and Benzolives will be scattered on the Chaine des Matheux and watershed of Péligre. According to estimates, 20% of these seeds, nearly 27 million trees will grow. Note that this type of aerial seeding has already been carried out with satisfactory results, including in Cuba and Jamaica. According to the Minister of the Environment this campaign of aerial seeding will continue until the end of the presidential term in 2016.

 

Achim Steiner, for whom this is the first visit to Haiti, renewed the commitment of the United Nations system in support of Haiti's efforts in the fight for the protection of the environment.