Sadly, we are coming to the end of an era at Floresta. Eldon Garcia officially retired as Executive Director from Floresta Dominican Republic in January to devote more time to his family and to his consulting business.  It doesn’t quite seem real yet, as he is still working part time until his replacement is chosen, sometime later this month.

When I began working with Floresta almost ten years ago, it was Eldon Garcia who helped orient me to the work and vision of Floresta.  I spent two months working with him in the Dominican Republic, much of the time as his houseguest.  For fifteen years he has been the face and the passion of Floresta Dominican Republic, sacrificing much of his personal time (and many professional opportunities as an engineer) to help the poor of his country and to “plant for the future.”

He has contributed an incredible amount to Floresta.  He was on the founding board of directors in 1984, and came on staff in 1987 to help shepherd the start of the Agroforestry Revolving Loan Fund.  In the mid-nineties, he oversaw the $650,000 InterAmerican Development Bank project, and several smaller USAID funded programs.  He built the Forest Products Farm and the sawmill complex.  He was with me to help begin both of the Mexican and Haitian programs.  Our drive from Santo Domingo into the mountains of Haiti for the first time is an experience I will never forget.

The good news is that Eldon will remain involved with Floresta Dominican Republic, both as a board member and assisting with the development of new products, such as oregano oil and spices.

We are grateful for all that Eldon and the entire Garcia family has done for Floresta and for the Dominican Republic and we look forward to many years of working with him in his new capacity.