Bussy: A New Environment in Haiti

Bussy: A New Environment in Haiti
By Jude Martinez Claircidor, Global Communities Haiti Communications Consultant
Remembering the Haiti Earthquake
Five years on since the devastating Haiti earthquake of January 12, 2010, Global Communities is telling the stories of some of our Haitian friends who are working hard to improve their lives and livelihoods in spite of the challenges that the earthquake created and the day-to-day difficulties they face in Haiti. We are focusing on the stories of those we worked with before the earthquake, who have shown the resilience and determination to make their livelihoods sustainable throughout the post-earthquake period. Together, we celebrate what they have achieved and continue to achieve as partners for good.

Henri Filisme and Lundi Jean Claude members of the Monitoring Committee for the Ravine Bussy the treatment project.
The 2010 earthquake left thousands of people in Haiti displaced, including dozens near Bussy, an area southeast of Port-au-Prince. The ravines in Bussy would suffer extensive bank erosion at the slightest downpour caused leading to multiple material losses and threatening lives of the populations living downstream. The raging waters sweeping down the slopes overwhelmed everything in their pathway. So Global Communities (formerly CHF International) launched Konbit Ak Tet Ansanm (KATA) in partnership with the Ministries of Environment and Agriculture, the Board of Directors of the 7th Section Morne l’Hopital and the community-based organization for the Advancement and Development of Carrefour Feuilles, sought to repair the damage and prevent future damage. 
Between 2008 and 2010, about 10 ravines in the neighborhood of Morne l’Hopital were treated by Global Communities, including Bandoune/Maltèque ravine, Mariani ravine, Sapotille, Bajo and Madan Gano. Henri Filisme, chairman of the Bussy Monitoring Committee, says these projects address the priorities of the Haitian communities fighting a fierce battle to save Morne l’Hopital and protect their environment. KATA  installed dry stone thresholds and planted seedlings of fruit and forest trees, and trimmed or removed various species to stop the future flow of materials runoff that cause damage and loss of life during rainy seasons. Old structures on the ravine were repaired and ramps were installed.
In order to sustain these structures, a monitoring and supervision committee of 11 members of the community was established. Members completed capacity building training sessions organized by Global Communities where they learned and honed skills to help them to do their jobs more efficiently, and motivate everyone to maintain and protect the structures set up in the area.
Since the completion of the work, no damage has occurred in the area, whereas before, during even the slightest downpour, streets near Bussy were completely flooded.

The lush, wooded environment of Ravine Bussy is an ecological gem and a rare find in a crowded city.
But in additional to being extremely functional, Bussy is also now decorative. This watershed on the grounds of Morne Hospital is an ecological gem – wooded, beautiful and peaceful – a rare find in a city fraught with loud noise, traffic jams, car exhaust and dust. The ravine also provides shelter from the sweltering sun, with lush green trees and many different species of flora, mahogany, pineapple, and more than 30,000 bamboo plants, along with wood pigeons, turrets and cicadas.
“The experience of this project has been very useful and helped strengthen our management capabilities,” said Filisme’. “This experience helped us manage a camp in Ti Savann near Ravine Bussy, and a vegetable growing project we are developing with other NGOs on the ground. The population of Carrefour Feuilles is proud of our work with Global Communities,” said Filisme’.