The Ministry of the Environment (MoE) participated, from November 8 to 11, 2026, in an official mission carried out in the departments of North and North-East on the occasion of the visit to Haiti of Mrs. Rocio Medina Bolivar. Regional Director of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) for Latin America and the Caribbean. This mission made it possible to highlight the results of the Inclusive Blue Economy Project (I-BE), supported by IFAD, and to reaffirm the importance of an approach combining economic development, protection of biodiversity and climate resilience.

Yves Bernard Remarais, the Chief of Staff, representing the Minister of the Environment, Valéry Fils-Aimé, took part in the activities alongside the Minister of Agriculture Marcelin Aubourg, the Chief of Staff of the Minister of Finance, Mousse Mac Kenley as well as representatives of IFAD, the Technical Execution Unit (UTE) of the Ministry of Economy and Finance and partner institutions. The MoE was also represented by Sener Alvert Daphinis, Director of the National Observatory of Environmental Quality and Vulnerability (ONQEV) and focal point of the I-BE project.

The presentation of 287 certificates to beekeepers, during a ceremony organized on November 10 at the University of Limonade, was one of the highlights of this mission. This initiative, carried out as part of the I-BE project, illustrates the efforts made to strengthen the skills of producers, improve their economic activities and encourage practices compatible with the preservation of ecosystems.

Speaking on behalf of Minister Valéry Fils-Aimé, the Director of Cabinet underlined the economic and environmental scope of this initiative. "Today we are not just celebrating the awarding of certificates. We celebrate acquired skills, strengthened production capacities and new economic prospects for Haitian families."

Recalling the essential role of bees in pollination and agricultural productivity, he insisted on the interdependence between the preservation of biodiversity and productive activities : "There can be no sustainable beekeeping without a healthy environment. And there can be no sustainable agricultural development without preserved biodiversity."

Intervening, Ms. Rocío Medina Bolívar, IFAD Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, expressed her satisfaction with the results of the I-BE project, which she was able to appreciate directly during field visits carried out in the North and Northeast. She particularly praised the commitment of beekeepers, whose activities contribute to both the economic development of rural communities and the preservation of the environment. Congratulating them for the efforts made, she encouraged them to continue their commitment, to put into practice the skills acquired and to persevere in the development of sustainable beekeeping.

Beyond this ceremony, the delegation visited several achievements supported by I-BE projects. At Terrier Rouge, discussions with producers focused on the development of beekeeping and the valorization of honey. In Paulette, a visit to a developed lake allowed us to appreciate its importance for livestock breeding and local economic activities.

On this occasion, the Director of Cabinet encouraged the examination of possibilities for wooded development around the lake, in collaboration with the officials concerned, in order to strengthen the environmental protection of the site.

The mission also made it possible to discover salt production and mangrove planting initiatives in Jacquesyl, as well as to interact with artisanal fishermen and fish sellers in Bord-de-Mer de Limonade. These meetings highlighted the close links between the sustainable management of natural resources, the economic security of households and the resilience of coastal communities.

For the Ministry of the Environment, the observed experiences demonstrate the importance of strengthening coordination between public institutions, technical and financial partners and community organizations, in order to consolidate project achievements and ensure their sustainability.

"Protecting biodiversity means protecting our capacity to produce. Investing in our producers is investing in the future of Haiti," recalled the Chief of Staff during his speech at Limonade.

Through this participation, the MoE reaffirms its commitment to promoting development initiatives that simultaneously contribute to the creation of economic opportunities, the restoration of ecosystems and the improvement of the living conditions of populations.

HL/ HaitiLibre