Episcopal Relief and Development celebrates World Environment Day 2007. World Environment Day was designated as June 5th to promote awareness of the environment.
ERD supports environmental sustainability and development through its food security and primary health programs worldwide. Our programs assist communities worldwide through forestry projects such as planting trees, creating tree nurseries, and maintaining woodlots. Farmers are taught new agricultural training techniques that help to correct poor farming practices that cause degradation to vast amounts of land, leaving it barren.
In Haiti, only 2% of the country is forested and 6,000 hectares of once-arable land is destroyed annually due to soil erosion. ERD’s partnership with the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti and the Haiti Fund has managed the Comprehensive Development Project (CODEP), a reforestation and agricultural training center. In response to deforestation in Haiti’s mountain regions, the partnership has established over 870,000 meters of hedgerows, 60,000 meters of contour canals, and planted over 2,000,000 forest trees and 105,000 fruit trees since 2000.
In the Philippines, ERD is working with the Diocese of Central Philippines in the Rizal Province to teach farmers of the dangers of “kaingin”. “Kaingin” is a type of farming where mountain sides are burned and planted with cash crops. In response to community concerns, ERD is assisting the Diocese in creating a community farm. Coffee and fruit from the mountainous Central region of the country are in high demand due to better taste and quality. Bananas, coffee, and fruit will be planted on the farm and will serve as a source of income for farmers and help stop the practice of “kaingin” farming.
“Careful stewardship of land and water resources is a central component of ERD’s agricultural programs,” said Abagail Nelson, ERD’s Vice President for Programs. “Crop rotation, reforestation, and other integrated efforts have both a positive influence on the environment and helps to sustain the lives that depend on that environment,” said Nelson.
ERD’s programs help to save lives and teach people how to appreciate and value planet Earth.
To make a contribution to Episcopal Relief and Development, please visit http://www.er-d.org/ or call 1-800-334-7626, ext. 5129. Gifts can be mailed to: Episcopal Relief and Development, PO Box 7058, Merrifield, VA 22116-7058
Episcopal Relief and Development is the international relief and development agency of the Episcopal Church of the United States. An independent 501(c) (3) organization, ERD saves lives and builds hope in communities around the world. ERD’s programs work toward achieving the Millennium Development Goals. We provide emergency assistance in times of crisis and rebuild after disasters. We enable people to climb out of poverty by offering long-term solutions in the areas of food security and health care, including HIV/AIDS and malaria.
