On Wednesday, Feb. 15, I leave for the Dominican Republic. I will be gone for 2.5 months, and will mainly be involved in helping to start a new Floresta project on the border between Haiti and the Dominican Republic. As you may know, the island of Hispanola is occupied by the two countries, Haiti on the western third, and the DR on the eastern two thirds. The entire island is about 650km x 250km making it slightly larger than Lake Superior. Sharing the same island has meant a deeply intertwined but not necessarily friendly history and today you could probably liken the relationship between the two countries as somewhat analogous to that of the US and Mexico. The border region, where we hope to work, is particularly sensitive and has suffered not only from political complications but environmental complications as well--witness the devastating floods that were in the news two years ago. We are in the very fortunate position of having programs in both countries--albeit not right at the border--and we hope to bring both teams together to try and take a crack at finding some solutions for the deforestation problems in that area.
I'm pretty concerned about my personal safety this time around. If you've been following the news you'll know that things in Haiti are, well, it's really hard to say how things in Haiti are at the moment. This is part of the reason for flying into the DR from where I will travel to Haiti as I am able. In theory I will split my time 50/50 between the two countries. I do know several Americans and Canadians who are living and working in Haiti at the moment without too much problem so I know it can be done. Still, when Wyclef Jean, the famed rap artist has to go on Haitian national television, to plead with the gangs not to kidnap his friends Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie who visited a few weeks back, it gives one pause.
Bob
Photo: some of the last pine forest in the border region and in Haiti, taken on a site visit by some of our staff and farmers.
