In the second episode of Forward Footprint, Arpin’s ESG Director Karen Bannon continues the series’ exploration of sustainable, community-led development initiatives by speaking once again with Dr. Sue Carlson, Executive Director of the Raising Haiti Foundation. This episode shifts the focus from food security to environmental restoration and economic empowerment through an innovative initiative: the Tree Currency Program.
At its core, the Tree Currency Program is built on a simple idea: what if planting trees could function as a form of currency?
In rural Haiti, where environmental degradation and limited access to agricultural resources have long challenged communities, this program offers farmers a way to earn essential supplies—such as seeds, tools, and agricultural training—by planting and nurturing trees. In doing so, it simultaneously addresses two critical needs: reversing deforestation and strengthening local livelihoods.
Dr. Carlson explains how this model transforms the traditional aid dynamic into one of participation and investment. Rather than receiving one-time assistance, farmers become active stakeholders in environmental recovery and economic development. Each tree planted represents both ecological restoration and future economic opportunity, creating a cycle of growth that benefits individuals, families, and entire communities.
A major milestone highlighted in this episode is the program’s extraordinary scale: over 856,000 trees have already been planted. This achievement reflects not only environmental progress but also the collective power of thousands of individual farmers contributing to a shared mission.
Click play on the podcast below to listen to the conversation.
