Mountain Majesty – the History of CODEP Haiti, where
sustainable agricultural development works
Now a trilogy covering the exciting story of how CODEP worked to renew the land, the people,
and the economy in CODEP’s operating area in the mountains south of Léogâne.
Mountain Majesty
Estimates are that more than 70 % of Haiti is a barren wasteland with no trees, constant erosion, and land unable to sustain life – plant or animal.
Yet, for nearly 30 years, rural Haitians living in the area directly southwest of Port-au-Prince have been slowly and steadily planting millions of trees in harsh mountainous terrain.
Mountain Majesty is the story of this enormous achievement.
It chronicles the evolution of the Comprehensive Development Project (CODEP) as its members learned the tough lessons necessary for reforestation and the journey to economic self-sufficiency.
They had to develop techniques to stop erosion and reclaim land. They had to shift perspective from subsistence farming to long-term thinking. They had to incorporate Haitian cultural nuances to build credibility with the community.
The plan was to complete the project in five years.
Instead, it has lasted 30 and promises to last 30 more.
Who is John Winings?
John worked for Haiti Fund, Inc. for more than twelve years and lived in Haiti for more than five years, gradually spending less and less time there as the leadership team became more skilled and confident.
The Comprehensive Development Project (CODEP) project is supported by Haiti Fund (now named Haiti Reforestation Partnership) and is a successful and unique project in a country where most projects fail.
John wrote this three volume trilogy that tells the story of CODEP and its people.
Having worked for fifty years in industry in a variety of positions, his experience, compassion, and skills brought to HFI in 2005 combined with the existing talents of the American and Haitian people enabled CODEP to become what it is today—a hugely successful sustainable agricultural development project.
Find out more about John Winings
