Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book examines reforestation in Haiti, a major international effort to reduce the suffering of Haitians caused by deforestation. It presents doubts about the effectiveness of focusing on poor rural Haitians to prevent further damage to the land. The book introduces the connection between deforestation and Haitian refugees by examining whether Haitian emigrants are environmental refugees. It looks at the 1990s international embargo against the illegal government of Haiti and its effect on Haitians, and focuses on the embargo's effect on the largest group, rural Haitians. The book also examines what is most important to most Haitians: their near-term economic future. This future is not only important to Haitians, Haitian Americans, and Haiti's policy makers, it is also important to US foreign and domestic policies.