Overview:

A new $90,000 project aims to protect Haiti’s endangered Haut-Fourneau mangrove in Port-de-Paix, preserving biodiversity and boosting eco-tourism with local and international support.

PORT-DE-PAIX —  In an effort to preserve one of Haiti’s most fragile ecosystems, local environmental groups have launched a $90,000 conservation project to protect the Haut-Fourneau mangrove in Port-de-Paix, a coastal city in the country’s northwest.

In northwest Haiti, where environmental degradation and economic hardship often go hand in hand, a new $90,000 conservation effort seeks to protect one of the country’s last remaining mangrove ecosystems. 

The Haut-Fourneau mangrove, covering nearly 700 acres near Port-de-Paix, provides vital protections against erosion, serves as a nursery for marine life, and stores large amounts of carbon. But it’s under growing threat from illegal logging, overfishing, and pollution. The new project, backed by the French Agency for Development (AFD) and Haitian Biodiversity Fund (FHB), is led by grassroots groups GADEL and AGRIBEL.

It aims to promote sustainable livelihoods like beekeeping and eco-tourism, while officially designating the mangrove a protected area. Organizers and residents alike say the initiative is a lifeline—for both the environment and the people who depend on it.

“This mangrove area must be managed wisely and protected by state authorities,” said Fednert Désile, president of the Organization for the Management of the Haut-Fourneau–La Saline Mangrove (OJMOLA). “It’s a national treasure that could serve the entire community.”

A clip showcasing the Haut-Fourneau mangrove ecosystem and its important coastal region. Video via GADEL’s Facebook.

Despite its ecological importance, the mangrove faces increasing destruction from illegal logging, pollution, and urban encroachment. Many residents cut down trees for charcoal and bakery fuel—a practice driven by poverty and the lack of affordable energy alternatives.

“The mangrove is disappearing little by little,” said Désile. “People are destroying it just to survive.”

Environmental experts warn that this destruction accelerates coastal erosion, worsens flooding, and undermines local livelihoods that depend on fishing and tourism. Yet, Haiti’s limited environmental enforcement capacity—combined with low public awareness and the country’s broader economic hardship—makes sustained protection difficult.

Mangroves like Haut-Fourneau are considered “blue carbon” ecosystems, capable of storing vast amounts of carbon dioxide and mitigating the effects of climate change. But Haiti, where more than 98% of original forest cover has been lost, continues to face one of the most severe deforestation rates in the Caribbean.

Partial view of the Haut-Fourneau lake corridor with a small fishing boat and a handmade net used by fishermen on Saturday, June 28, 2025. Photo by Kervenson Martial /The Haitian Times.

GADEL, active in the Northwest for 15 years, says training in sustainable fishing and alternative livelihoods like beekeeping will be key to reducing exploitation of the mangrove.

“Our goal is to protect biodiversity while ensuring that people can still earn a living,” said agronomist Owell Théock, GADEL’s executive director. “Preservation must go hand in hand with community development.”

A symbol of cooperation, resilience, fishing and survival pressures

Antoine Michon, French ambassador to Haiti, who visited the site earlier this month, praised the collaboration between local communities and international partners.

“France is proud to support this project, which connects environmental protection, climate resilience, and the sustainable development of local communities,” Michon said. “By protecting the mangroves, we protect both nature and the future of Haiti’s coastal families.”

The initiative builds on a roundtable held by the Ministry of the Environment earlier this year, which gathered community groups and government officials to discuss an integrated management plan for the Haut-Fourneau ecosystem. The meeting was supported by the Global Climate Change Alliance Plus (GCCA+) as part of the ministry’s 30th-anniversary activities.

“This project lays the foundation for shared governance between public authorities, community organizations, and technical partners,” said Noël Lucner, the Northwest Departmental Director for the Environment.

The Haut-Fourneau mangrove is also a crucial fishing ground, providing most of the seafood consumed in Port-de-Paix. Overfishing, however, has put pressure on marine life.

Residents sitting on a boat enjoy a visit to the mangrove lagoon on Saturday, June 28, 2025. Photo by Kervenson Martial/The Haitian Times.

“The only way we survive is by fishing every day,” said fisherman Ismaël Désile. “If the government asks us to stop, we need other ways to live.”

Environmental advocates say such voices underscore the urgent need for integrated solutions that address both ecological preservation and economic realities.

“The mangrove is not just a forest—it’s a lifeline,” said Renel Octavius, a local resident. “It can attract tourists, generate jobs, and protect us from storms. The government must see its value.”

However, among many challenges are deforestation, poor waste management, poverty-driven resource use, limited environmental education and a lack of strong state regulation and enforcement policy.

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