RESEARCH

2018 Dreer Award 

In 2018, I was awarded a travel research grant by The Horticulture Section of the School of Integrative Plant Science at Cornell University. This award offers the opportunity to pursue research abroad related to horticulture. For my research, I am studying the role of horticulture in environmental remediation on the island of Hispaniola, with interest in transboundary territories and communities. My hope is to uncover regenerative and remediating strategies utilizing horticulture unique to the island.  

Currently, I am spending three months on the island and will be splitting my time between the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The complexity of the island lends to a history of colonization and deforestation. My goal is to use my time here to explore the historically aggravated landscapes and ecologies while discussing ongoing initiatives in the area with local professionals.  I believe that horticulture has the ability to shape and sustain a culture and by studying the plants that service these communities, I aspire to create design strategies that last for generations.  

Why?

Google Earth Image: Left Haiti, Right Dominican Republic 2017

The island of Hispaniola is a complex and unique landscape. Historically, the political turmoil that has divided the island has also led to decades of land and resource exploitation. Today, the drastic difference between regional landscapes along the border is striking and reflects years of abuse and aggravation. On the Haitian side the land is barren, desolate, and stark. On the Dominican side, lush forestry lines the border and the landscape fosters various types of vegetation and development. How can there be such drastic ecological conditions within this joint landscape?

As of late 2017, the United Nations has issued an agreement between the Dominican and Haitian governments to work together towards building a green economy by addressing the issues of food security, deforestation, soil erosion and under-development. A green economy can be used as an alternative vision for future growth and development, with a focus in sustainable initiatives.  In addition, President Danilo Medina of the Dominican Republic has not only instituted numerous reforestation projects across the country but has also planned to invest $28.3 million to promote agroforestry projects in environmentally sensitive areas [as of 2016]. The amount of publicized initiatives and agreements related to environmental regeneration in recent years provides a unique location to conduct research on the role of horticulture in environmental degradation and remediation. On an island that appears to feature polar opposite environmental conditions, how can horticulture be utilized to encourage prosperity between both countries through cultural and economic integration?