Jean Wiener

If I have the opportunity to change things, I will always try to. In Haiti, I developed a mechanism of change through my NGO, FoProBiM.  My specialization is in coastal and marine issues; if I can help to make that part of my country, my region, or my planet better, and if someone else helps to make their part of the planet better, then we all do better. No matter where you are on the planet, everyone’s lives impact you, and everyone’s actions impact you. I am not naïve, but I strongly believe that we all do better when even one of us does better; let alone a whole community, …or a country!

I hope that I have helped to improve things in Haiti by planting millions of mangrove trees, working with thousands of coastal community members to improve their livelihoods, stopping damaging fishing methods, and helping to protect vital coastal and marine resources.

We are the first and only Haitian founded and run environmental organization dealing primarily with coastal and marine issues.  Everything our team does is tied to this focus; the development of alternative income generating activities (e.g. apiculture, eco-tourism), environmental education, habitat restoration (coral reefs and mangroves), beach cleanups, research, the development of Haiti’s first six marine protected areas (with 3 more on the way), fisheries management, and policy development.  I am hoping to continue to develop local capacity to undertake projects to help local people.