A blackened, still-smoking landscape now replaces what was once a thriving ecological space filled with endemic plants. The botanical garden of Les Cayes, particularly its ecological section, has been devastated by fires and reduced to charcoal.
The garden’s management announced that the site has been forcibly closed for more than eight months due to a land dispute, leading to the cancellation of the traditional May 1 agricultural fair.
Founder and agronomist William Cinéa expressed deep sorrow over the destruction, explaining that a significant portion of rare native plants was burned, while some areas have been converted into banana plantations.
Cinéa stated that efforts were made to reach an agreement with the landowner, but negotiations have failed. He also alleged that the owner benefits from support at high levels of local authority, allowing actions to proceed without consequence.
The Les Cayes Botanical Garden is not only a public space but also a scientific, educational, and research center that has played a key role in preserving Haiti’s biodiversity.
Created with the vision of making Haiti greener, the project now faces a serious threat due to unresolved land ownership disputes, despite previous attempts by the state to acquire the property.
