Haiti is a country filled with rich art, colonial architecture, and white sand beaches. With over 1,500 km of coastline that once consisted of mangroves, sea grass beds, coral reefs, and diverse fish populations, tourism used to dominate the economy and provide income for many Haitians. In 1975, the Clintons spent their honeymoon in Haiti!
Unfortunately, Haiti is now the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and suffers from extreme poverty, natural disasters, and political unrest. The trying conditions, coupled with a growing population, have taken their toll on the surrounding environment, resulting in environmental degradation and stress on already scarce natural resources. While the country and its marine conservation organizations have made many strides in environmental conservation and protection in recent years, the coastal and marine environment in Haiti, in particular, is experiencing a wide range of challenges, and needs help.
In 2016, two researchers from the University of Massachusetts Boston traveled to Haiti to see first-hand the problems affecting Haiti’s coastal environment and identify ways to address those problems (final report is located here). During site visits and interviews, the extensive challenges facing the coastal environment, and the country as a whole, were very evident. While in Haiti, the researchers traveled to the coast (Petite Riviere de Nippes and Cap Haitien) and to the main capital (Port-Au-Prince). At these sites, they met with staff from two marine conservation programs in Haiti: Fondation pour la Protection de la Biodiversite Marine (FoProBiM) (www.foprobim.org) and the Haiti Ocean Project (http://www.haitioceanproject.net).
Below is what they learned.
Overfishing
To start, overfishing is prevalent in Haiti and other countries around the globe. The lack of food and jobs in Haiti have led to subsistence fishing – harvesting all available fish, regardless of size or maturity. Since fishermen have already caught most large fish, they commonly use small-mesh nets to catch the small juvenile fish; meaning these young fish are removed before spawning. Although it is illegal to use small-mesh nets, there is no real enforcement. Fishermen are generally aware that their fishing methods are unsustainable, but they have few other options for food or income.
Deforestation
Deforestation is also very apparent as you drive on winding roads through the interior of the country. The country’s once prevalent forest cover is almost completely gone. Haiti has a long history of deforestation, which began soon after Christopher Columbus’ arrival. In the 1800s, Haitians were forced to ship trees to France for debt payment, resulting in considerable deforestation. Additionally, in the 1900s, logging operations cut down a large number of trees for use as charcoal. This deforestation has caused extreme erosion, flooding, water resource degradation, habitat destruction, and a lot of sediment deposition in the marine environment. Sediment can smother marine communities, kill coral, and affect algae production.
Mangrove Harvesting
Mangrove harvesting is another major issue for Haiti’s coasts. Mangroves play a vital role in the ecosystem, providing nurseries for juvenile fish, shoreline protection, and carbon sequestration. With limited options for fuel, Haitians primarily depend on making charcoal from wood to heat ovens and cook. Due to deforestation, however, forests cannot provide a reliable supply of wood. In turn, Haitians harvest mangroves as their main source of charcoal, thereby disrupting Haiti’s marine ecosystem.
Limited Solid Waste Infrastructure
The country’s limited solid waste infrastructure is obvious as soon as you arrive in Haiti. The Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) estimates that only about 20% of trash in Haiti is thrown away in a waste receptacle. Remaining trash is often burned or openly dumped, ending up in the ocean or on the side of the road. This causes unsanitary conditions, impacts tourism, and harms the environment.
Sea Turtle Exploitation
Sea turtle exploitation has been occurring for decades, and some experts believe Haiti is the biggest exploiter of turtles in the Caribbean region. Haiti is home to at least four species of sea turtles, including Loggerhead, Hawksbill, Leatherback, and Green. The sea turtle population in Haitian waters has dramatically declined over the last twenty years. Reasons for this decline include: 1) limited local knowledge about sea turtle biology and their role in the ecosystem, 2) weak sea turtle regulations and limited enforcement, and 3) poor economic conditions forcing fishermen to optimize on any found resources – even turtles!
Organizations such as FoProBiM, The Haiti Ocean Project, The Nature Conservancy, and others are working with local communities on a variety of impressive projects to help address some of these problems. For example, some current or recent projects include: 1) developing a fishery action plan to promote sustainable fisheries; 2) developing coral nurseries to help restore important fish habitat; 3) conducting research on sea turtle exploitation and marine mammal populations; 4) restoring mangroves, and creating incentives to discourage mangrove harvest; 5) collecting plastic waste in return for money, goods, and services; 6) planting trees and developing tree nurseries; and 7) conducting local environmental education.
How to Help!
There are many opportunities to engage on projects in Haiti in the fields of aquaculture, waste management, coral regeneration, fisheries management, environmental education, sea turtle and marine mammal research and management, the development of economic alternatives – and the list goes on. Partnering with local organizations, such as FoProBiM and the Haiti Ocean Project, is critical as they are heavily engaged in many of these topics, and are closely connected to the local communities.
If you are interested in any of this work, please contact one of the aforementioned local organizations or Kim Starbuck at the Urban Harbors Institute at Kimberly.starbuck@umb.edu.
Kim is a Research Associate with the Urban Harbors Institute at the University of Massachusetts Boston. She has more than ten years of
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This piece was edited and posted onto SEVENSEAS Media by: Bharamee Thamrongmas.