Plant Atlas for private and public investments
Client
At the request of the Bank of the Republic of Haiti (BRH), NDI's Plant Science Division was tasked with developing a comprehensive plant atlas for the Grand Sud region of Haiti.
Project
NDI compiled and delivered an atlas of 271 plants found across the Grand Sud region, documenting each species' name, image, origin, extent, use, and related scientific literature.
Problem
Despite the region's extraordinary plant diversity, there are persistent missed opportunities to bring botanical ethnomedicine, ethnobotany, and edible plant knowledge into food systems programming. At the same time, investors in plant-based, botanical, and bio-based industries lack reliable, consolidated information about the range and utility of plants in southern Haiti — limiting both private sector development and culturally-grounded public programming.
Research Questions
The atlas was guided by three core questions:
What medicinal, aromatic, and edible plants are present in the Grand Sud region of Ayiti, and where are they found?
What are the common uses of these plants within the region?
Do local uses align with or diverge from uses documented in the scientific literature?
What NDI Delivered
Drawing on decades of plant collection and identification data, NDI produced a structured, field-verified atlas that serves as a guiding botanical reference for the region.
What Resulted
BRH and its stakeholders are now equipped to design agricultural and grassroots programming that is culturally aligned with Haiti's plant heritage. The atlas also provides a foundation for businesses seeking to transform the region's rich plant diversity into ethically sourced products that support sustainable rural development.
Tags: Haiti | Private Sector | Plant Science | Research and Evaluation | Rural Community Development | 2026
