Port au Prince, 11 September 2015 - A workshop organized by Haiti's Ministries of Environment and Agriculture, and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) was held to validate the findings of an exploratory study on the green economy potential of the agricultural sector in the South Department of Haiti.
The five value chains of focus (mango, honey, cashew, castor oil and cocoa) for the evaluation were selected taking into previous UNEP studies indicating a high potential for these value chains to contribute to economic development in the South Department and the establishment of a network of marine and terrestrial protected areas in the region in 2013. Through a green economy approach to development in the South Department, these value chains can help to reinforce the protected areas system, which in turn ensures health, productive ecosystems that support livelihoods, and foster sustainable economic development.
Vernet Joseph, Chief of Staff of the Ministry of the Environment, opened the workshop and presented the main strategic guidelines for the application of the green economy concept and its role in sustainable development in Haiti.
Karly Pierre Jean Jeune, Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Agriculture and their focal point for the project, spoke about the potential for green economy to contribute to sustainable rural development in the agricultural sector, which counts for over 60% of the Haitian economy, particularly among rural communities.
Additionally, representatives from each of the five agricultural sectors attended the workshop and presented the specific economic and environmental challenges facing their sector, they also discussed opportunities offered through a green economy approach to development at both the technical and political levels.
UNEP also emphasized that 2015 is an important year for Haiti, and for the world, with regard to the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) launched the UN Sustainable Development Summit in New York. The advancement of a green economy in Haiti, beginning with the agricultural sector, is an important step towards achieving the SDGs targets.
During the national validation workshop, which followed two previous validation meetings at the sectoral roundtables of agriculture and environment in the South Department, the report was presented to participants and a number of comments and suggestions will be taken into consideration before finalization. Suggestions include expanding the study to additional varieties of value chains and taking into account the potential for organic certification. Once the report is finalized in October 2015, follow-up will occur at three levels:
- The South Department will incorporate the findings of the report into the Development Plan for the Grand Sud and the Coordination Table of the Grand Sud
- At the national level, the report will be presented at the Environment Sectoral Roundtable in Port-au-Prince with the aim of encouraging participation among technical and financial partners of the Ministry of Environment. The report will also be used as a model and foundation to promote a broader approach to green economy both thematically (other industries and sectors) and geographically (including other regional departments)
- At the international level, the report will be presented at the 3rd Conference of Green Economy in the Caribbean, which will take place in 2016 with the participation of Focal Points of the Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Agriculture.
