A project aimed at establishing sustainable economic opportunities in agroforestry in Haiti and reducing threats to the country’s last remaining primary forest, the Macaya National Park, is set to become a priority for the United Nations Development Programme (UNEP).

The website, Grafelbergnoticias, reports that the announcement came when UNEP Executive Director, Achim Steiner, toured Macaya National Park with Haitian President, Michel Joseph Martell,y on World Environment Day.

The UNEP project aims to protect the livelihoods of those why depend on the Macaya forest while also preserving biodiversity and ecosystem services. “This can only be done by creating green jobs and promoting sustainable agriculture practices,” said Steiner.

He outlined how a main component of the project is the creation of sustainable economic opportunities in agroforestry that will enable a green economy in the south of the country.

“It is fundamental to promote economic development to break the harmful dependency of the population towards the park’s resources,” added Paul Denis Caton of the Management Group for Macaya Park.

Read the full story: Haiti’s World Environment Day