A Tree Grows in Haiti

Read how planting trees can help rebuild Haiti. myCATS has planted thousands of trees with the help our of customers who wear our eco-friendly espadrilles & alpargatas for men & women. Learn more at www.mycatshoes.com.

“Almost all of the country’s problems—natural disasters, food shortages, poverty—can be traced back to rampant deforestation,” says Ethan Budiansky, the Caribbean-programs officer at Trees for the Future, a nonprofit group that is planting thousands of trees in the mountains around Gonaïves. “So if we want to fix the country, we have to start there.” While there are no panaceas in Haiti, successful reforestation might come close. By absorbing water and holding soil in place, trees can minimize the impact of natural disasters and repair nutrient-poor agricultural lands. An aggressive reforestation campaign would also bring much-needed jobs to the region and, if done correctly, could solve the energy conundrum that led Haitians to cull their forests in the first place. “Planting trees is not just some quaint side project,” says U.N. Development Group chair Helen Clark. “It’s the key to rebuilding the country.”

Read more here:

http://www.newsweek.com/2010/07/16/a-tree-grows-in-haiti.html

Million Trees for Michael

Great effort to get more trees planted! And as always, we plant a pair of trees for every purchase from mycatshoes.com of our eco-friendly espadrilles and alpargatas. Learn more about our efforts at: http://mycatshoes.com/join_us.php

http://www.amilliontreesformichael.com/

Deforestation places Haiti at risk of more landslides

Haiti is plagued by widespread deforestation because its poverty-stricken population cuts down trees for fuel. According to the National Geographic, as a result "the destruction of Haiti's natural forests is almost total, making the Caribbean country one of the most deforested in the world."

The canopies of trees serve as buffers to fend off wind and rain, while the roots help keep the soil from shifting--without this vital protection, the country is at risk of even more landslides. Its rapidly depleting forests along with the recent impact of the earthquake heighten this risk.

To read more about the importance of trees and tree planting in a country such as Haiti, check out this link.

Let's all keep the people of Haiti in our prayers...