Operation Green Leaves: Home

History

Operation Green Leaves was founded in 1991 by a group of Haitians and Americans who wanted to answer a call by the late Jacques Cousteau in his video “Haiti Water of Sorrow”, to save the island from ecological and environmental peril.

Haitians have been cutting trees for centuries to make charcoal, the most frequently used source of energy in Haiti.

As a result, we have erosion which washes away the top soil into the Caribbean sea, choking the marine life.

Most of the poor in the affected areas are struggling everyday to make it to the next day, therefore they have no concept of the relationship between their own lives and the natural world.

Nothing awakens the environmental connection more than personal experiences. Environmental education and hands-on training is a key component of our programs.

OGL has donated more than 100,000 seedlings to Haiti for the Pine Forest through the Ministry of the Environment, as well as provided seeds and seedlings for its other partner communities throughout Haiti.

OGL has served as an umbrella organization, forming community partnerships in 10 different areas of the island of Haiti.

In South Florida, OGL has organized tree planting activities , neighborhood beautification projects and beach clean-ups.

In addition, OGL has formed partnerships in 25 schools in South Florida for programs that include teacher training workshops on environmental education, water conservation, pollution prevention, gardening and solar technology.

Accomplishments

  • 1991: Operation Green Leaves was founded

  • 1992: First fact finding mission to Haiti. Ten acres of land is donated for our environmental education center

  • 1993: OGL Team’s 2nd visit to Haiti. Reforestation efforts with other environmental groups in Haiti established.

  • 1994: Production of 12-part Television show “Haiti Eco Alert”.  Haiti Eco Alert continued for an additional two seasons - 1995/1996.

  • 1995: First Earth Day Festival at Lemon City Park in Little Haiti. Over 2,000 trees are donated to homeowners. 35,000 seedlings are shipped to Haiti.

  • 1996: formed partnership with other environmental organizations in Haiti and  adopts 3 communities.  Seeds and seedlings are sent to nurseries.  OGL team of technicians visit partner communities at least 3 times per year providing, seed, seedlings, technical support and workshops.

  • 1997: shipped 110, 000 seedlings for reforestation projects in Haiti.

  • 1997: donated and shipped 2 generators to its partner communities, Arcahaie, Mole St. Nicolas.

  • 1998: OGL team visited various private schools in Haiti. Environmental presentations are made in three private schools in Port-au-Prince. OGL invites the National Tree Trust to visit its partner community of Arcahaie.

  • 1999: Environmental Education Committee is formed.  OGL hosts “Festival de l’Environment” in Haiti, a month-long celebration in collaboration with the Association of Private Schools.

  • 2000: formed partnerships with 4 new communities, Haut Moustique, Baie de conception & Jean-Rabel.

  • 2000: produced a “Trees of Little” Haiti booklet with a video as part of our educational program.

  • 2001: celebrated 10th Anniversary at Fairchild Tropical Garden on September 29th.

  • 2002: grand opening and first planting season for Reclamation Community Garden.

  • 2002: worked with Miami-Dade County’s Adopt-a-tree program.

  • 2002: awarded a grant from the Miami-Dade County Commission to implement the “Shade for Dade” program with Fairchild Tropical Garden.

  • 2003: awarded another season of for television show “Eco Alert

  • 2004: introduced new aggressive campaign “TREES FOR LIFE, PYE BYA SE LA VIE,” with goals to A-plant trees in affected areas especially on mountain tops, B-provide families in the affected areas with kerosene stove as an alternative to cooking with charcoal and, C-expand our education, training and awareness program.

  • 2005: planted thousands of fruit and forest trees with partner organization in Source Cacao, Port-de Paix, Haiti and two new working committees are set up continue the work.

  • 2006: formed partnership with Afe Neg Combite in Haiti, a 30 year-old non-profit organization based in Kenskoff, Haiti whose mission is to improve the standard of living of the peasantry