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Fiscal Year 2001 was a year of tremendous growth for Floresta. Financially we grew by more than 50% enabling us to greatly increase our impact and professionalism in the field. Our programs in Mexico and Haiti truly came of age, as our full range of projects began to bear fruit. Most importantly many families attest to the fact that participation with Floresta has changed their lives and brought them closer to God. Our complete annual report is available from our office. If you would like a copy please e-mail us at floresta@xc.org to request a copy. The highlights are summarized below:
Dominican Republic
Work is ongoing in approximately forty communities north of Santo Domingo, in the region of Villa Altagracia, Bonao and Maimon.
· Floresta Advisory Board member Dr. Cal DeWitt assisted Floresta with a series of dynamic workshops on Christianity and the environment. Participants included the Minister of Natural Resources, politicians, teachers, scientists, theologians and field practitioners.
· Los Arbolitos, the tree nursery founded by Floresta 16 years ago, completed its seventh consecutive profitable year, selling 1.7 million seedlings.
· Floresta completed its work in forty communities near San Juan de la Maguana, working with 845 families and providing assistance in agroforestry and income generation. Over the course of this three-year project, nearly 400,000 trees were planted, 722 cisterns installed and over 650 sheep and 52 cows were distributed into a revolving loan system.
· 350 farmers participated in the Floresta agroforestry revolving loan fund, planting 126,100 trees, and receiving credit for the ongoing establishment of agroforestry farms.
· Floresta operated two portable sawmills, producing finished lumber, to add value to the wood grown by local farmers. This will become an independent business in the future, partially owned by the farmers.
· Numerous other projects took place, including the installation of an oregano oil distiller, expansion of community tree nurseries and experimentation with several tree and crop varieties.
Mexico
Work is ongoing in seven communities in the Santo Domingo Nuxaá and San Andres Nuxiño Municipalities of Oaxaca.
· 175 families worked with Floresta in various projects. Programs included agricultural training, seminars in Biblically based servant leadership, and environmental education.
· Another community tree nursery was built, bringing the total to five. Community nurseries have produced 68,128 seedlings to date; 48,428 were produced this fiscal year.
· 27,500 trees were planted, reforesting 27 acres, doubling the previous year’s accomplishments.
· Floresta Oaxaca made 31 loans to entrepreneurs in four communities.
· Three fish farms were established in El Porvenir. It is the community’s goal to improve their diet and generate revenue by selling the fish.
· A Sheep Reproduction Center was established in El Oro. The center is farmer-managed and offspring will be passed down to other communities in the region.
Haiti
· Over 400 farmers in 12 communities participated in Floresta’s program of agricultural improvement, micro-enterprise credit, sustainable agriculture and discipleship. Many reported up to 300% increase in crop yields.
· Floresta Haiti continued to run a very successful micro-enterprise program. Another 209 farmers received credit, bringing the total for the program to 581 loans, with a 100% rate of repayment.
· Haitian farmers participating in the Floresta program planted over 20,640 trees, grafted 806 fruit trees and constructed 38 miles of anti-erosion barriers.
United States
· Floresta began a local initiative to raise and plant American Liberty Elm trees. Profits from elm tree sales will benefit overseas projects. Forty-four trees were raised at a local nursery.
· Floresta volunteers collaborated with People for Trees to plant trees in the San Diego area.
· Floresta provided on-site consulting for an agroforestry program in Indonesia. Program possibilities in additional countries were also researched.
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