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Haiti – Environment : Extremely worrying situation of mangroves
Deforestation, high exposure to climatic hazards, poor planning of land use, poverty, lack of awareness and education of the population, overexploitation of resources http://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-8991-haiti-environment-order-protecting-the-mangroves.html ; Haiti, meets almost all the conditions of vulnerability to climate change.
Natural ecosystems, such as mangroves, which plays a key role in the cycling of carbon and nutrients in coastal areas, are not immune to the adverse effects of climate change. Recall that the coastal waters around mangroves, are generally rich in shrimp and fish and represents a shelter that houses a large animal biodiversity, including various species of crab. Some fish come also breed, others ensure their growth.
The mangrove is of paramount importance both economically and ecologically, and represents one of the most productive ecosystems. Its disappearance, whose average annual percentage rate in Haiti is estimated between 1 and 2%, with losses between 35 and 86% of the initial surface depending on the location, is extremely worrying, especially as it may accelerate according to changes in sea level, due to climate change.
In the South Department, specifically in the commune of Aquin, rampant cutting of mangroves, which are a natural defense barrier for the area, endangering the population of the neighboring coastal towns. The situation is alarming and to remedy the situation the Haitian Government, together with the United Nations Programme for Development (UNDP) is implementing a project to rehabilitate the mangroves of the city of Aquin over two years.
This project aims to protect mangroves by reducing the risk of saltwater intrusion into groundwater, which ensure the availability of water for people, but also to educate the public about the importance of mangroves and the need to protect them.
Aquin is unfortunately not an isolated case in Haiti, where mangrove ecosystems are vulnerable. This is why the UNDP, in consultation the Government of Haiti and Canada are exploring the possibilities to replicate and extend the successful experiences, but also how to ensure continuous information for effective consideration of climate change at all levels of decision decision.
Haiti – Environment : Order protecting the Mangroves
http://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-8991-haiti-environment-order-protecting-the-mangroves.html
Wednesday, July 10, 2013, the Council of Ministers adopted an order prohibiting the construction in the Mangroves as well as the cut, the sale and use of tree species forming the Mangrove commonly used as wooden shoring commonly known as “hardwood” in all its forms in the field of construction. Fishing and hunting are also prohibited within the Mangroves.
That order reflects the Government’s commitment to take action in the national interest, of measures to ensure the protection of the environment, conservation of forests both of the domain of the State and of the private domain, as well as rehabilitation of degraded lands.
Upon publication of this Order, the competent authorities will proceed to the seizure of stocks after finding and sealing by the Justice of the Peace in the locality where storage has been found. Violators will be punished according to law.
Meanwhile, arrangements will be made by the Ministry of Environment in order to proceed to the systematic restoration of areas of Mangroves.
Haiti – Agriculture : Repopulation, conservation, rehabilitation and management of mangroves in the South
Engineer Agronomist Vernet Joseph, Secretary of State for agricultural recovery of the Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development, has recently conducted a mission in the South, accompanied on-site by the taff of the Departmental Directorate Agricultural South and Vice-delegate of the arrondissement of Tiburon, with the aim of making a prospection of the population (ecosystem) of mangrove in the town of Tiburon, not only in the perspective of the protection of the ecosystem, but also of its restoration, which contributes to the reduction of local food insecurity.
Before local authorities, local resource users and members of civil society, the Secretary of State made understand the socio-economic importance of this ecosystem. A mangroves, which extends over a length of about 10km from Bompas in Carrefour, could have a tourist value, biological value and can be used for fishing and shelter for the reproduction of some marine species and birds such as wild ducks and pelican.
In order to reduce food insecurity through the restoration of a certain number of ecological niches, the Ministry of Agriculture has already started actions of repopulation, conservation, rehabilitation and sustainable management of mangroves in three communities: Tiburon, Anse-à-Veau in Nippes, Belle Anse in southeast.
Four structures : the Foyer des Plantes, Firmatech, the Fondation Verte and the “Union des Groupements pour le Développement du Sud-Est”, are involved in these actions for among other :
- Develop an inventory at the various populations ;
- Establish a socio-economic diagnosis summary and a list of players with local authorities ;
- Develop awareness modules on the protection of mangrove ecosystems and their management ;
- Proceed capacity building of sixty people in the communities concerned ;
- Produce and planting 700,000 seedlings according to the technical specifications set ;
- Constitute eventually at each site, a multi-sectoral management committee of acquired.