Haitian Redevelopment and The SLDI Code™
The earthquakes in Haiti brought disaster of epic proportions to a country that was already in a state of extreme crisis. The efforts of thousands of humanitarian organizations and individuals to bring emergency disaster relief to the Haitian population should be applauded. Air-dropping of food and medical supplies, the erection of emergency housing, the delivery of emergency healthcare services, and more, while unfortunately inadequate to address the crisis at hand, have helped tens of thousands of displaced Haitians who are desperately clinging to life.
Unfortunately, Haiti’s environmental, social and economic infrastructure had already been in critical states before the quakes, which compounded the current crisis. As SLDI indicated prior to the latest catastrophe in SLDT magazine article, SLDI Sets Sights on Haiti (June, 2009), Haiti is in dire need of redevelopment that can bring sustainable improvement to the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and improve what is among the lowest quality of life of any people on Earth.
If good can come from such tragic circumstances, an effort to successfully bring long-term revitalization and enhancement of Haitian quality of life for generations to come can emerge. Obviously, no one can prevent an earthquake from occurring, but we can prevent such an event from having such disastrous consequences. This will take more than quake-proof buildings. Truly dealing with the root causes of the Haitian crisis and avoiding repeated disastrous consequences again in the future will take the recognition of what has caused Haiti to become so poor in the first place. The challenge to rebuild a sustainable infrastructure for Haiti lies directly with the best of the professionals that comprise the land development industry – and calls out for a model of decision-making that is designed to deliver on the promise of a sustainable future from the triple-bottom-line perspective of social, environmental and economic impact.
The SLDI Code™ is that universal model. Through the holistic, triple-bottom-line, balanced perspective that is maintained through the SLDI Code system, following are just a few of the Haiti redevelopment programs that emerge.
Urban Cyber-village Model
To encourage quality residential development downtown, SLDI member Rick Harrison of RHSD Site Planning, designed a model urban cyber-village plaza that would be located directly across from the Palace of Justice in downtown Port au Prince. A “cyber village” is a high-tech neighborhood where residents can connect with the world, and even run a business from their residence. The neighborhood’s cyber-office is a community facility (the earthquake-proof dome) that serves as a meeting and business center. Using Prefurbia triple-bottom-line oriented sustainable planning and design theory, all residents have a panoramic view from within the living areas into the commons, greater connection with natural spaces can be achieved, and economic development opportunities are enhanced. This cutting-edge neighborhood elevates the standard for urban living and is a seed that brings innovation to spur sorely needed economic stability and growth to urban Haiti.
Rural Silvopasture Model
As has been the case with the collapse of every previous civilization throughout history, the downfall of Haiti can be traced back to the exploitation of its most important natural resources – trees and soil. Those resources have provided for the country’s food, shelter and energy production, and as has been chronicled extensively, those resources have not been managed well. Haiti is now the most deforested country on Earth, and as a result, the once-fertile soils in this mountainous terrain have eroded away.
SLDI member Charles Venator has developed a silvopasture best practices education and land management model for rural Haiti that increases forestry/grazing economic returns for private Haitians and simultaneously regenerates Haitian forests and soils for future generations.
Haiti Champion Tree Project
The mission of the Haiti Champion Tree Project is to help lead economic, environmental and social sustainability by protecting, propagating and planting a living legacy of the remaining native Champion Trees throughout the country. Champion Trees are the largest individual specimens of their species. These endangered old-growth trees are iconic models of sustainability because they provide us with a living example of the ability to resist environmental stress over a long period of time, while simultaneously improving living conditions for surrounding life forms. In addition to archiving the genetics of the Haiti old-growth forest for future scientific research, this important strategic step towards ecosystem restoration will generate strong publicity as a result of the affinity and interest in the largest trees of their species – “charismatic megaflora.” Such a project delivers a multitude of benefits which can be leveraged to bring even greater impact long-term. Champion Tree Projects are “gifts that keep on giving” to all of their stakeholders. The natural bond people throughout the world have with these iconic trees provides public relations opportunity to be capitalized on while helping restore a vital ecosystem at the same time.
Filed under: People, Planet, Politics, Profit, Tony Wernke Posts, best practices on March 30th, 2010