Global Reef Expedition Final Report: Navassa

The concepts of invasive species, their impacts on island populations and the potential for islands without invasive species are “alien� concepts to the Haitians. Working to communicate the concepts and inspire participation will take time in each community. One option involves stationing people in each community for a few weeks at a time. Jean Wiener believes it is vital to ensuring the longevity of project success. This may be an opportunity to partner with the Foundation pour la Protection de la Biodiversity Marine (FoProBiM). This non-government, non-profit, a-political organization was founded and is based in Haiti and has worked with coastal area inhabitants including farmers, fishers, and those making use of coastal and marine environments through a wide variety of sectors such as tourism, transportation, marketing, and seafood processing.

In over 20 years of working with multiple stakeholders in Haiti searching for and implementing solutions, FoProBiM has provided technical services spanning project design, management, and execution, as well as education, advocacy, research and capacity building activities. FoProBiM has been successful at (1) raising awareness concerning needed changes in regulations and attitudes concerning the environment, 2) increased knowledge and capabilities at the government, community and individual levels in order to make sustainable improvements in the coastal and marine environment and, (3) conducting educational programs as well as scientific research to promote a better understanding and the improved management and use of resources in Haiti. It has also undertaken projects for a wide variety of institutions ranging from UNDP, UNEP, IDB, the Ministry of Environment of Haiti, OAS, NOAA, USFWS, NFWF, to private funding agencies and the private sector.