As part of the Sustainable Coastal Tourism (TCD) program financed by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Technical Execution Unit of the Ministry of Economy and Finance (UTE/MEF) in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of the Environment; the latter and the National Agency for Protected Areas (ANAP), organized two webinars on September 4 and 6 on “The Impacts and Consequences of Climate Change on Protected Areas”.
Fishermen from Saint-Louis du Sud and Aquin were invited to these two training sessions which brought together 60 participants in Saint-Louis du Sud and 75 in Aquin.
Mr. Peguy Jacques, Director of Marine Protected Areas (MPA) Aquin/Saint-Louis du Sud gave a presentation of the MPAs in these two regions, specifying that the National Agency for Protected Areas (ANAP) is a General Directorate under the supervision of the Ministry of the Environment (MDE) whose mission is to manage and coordinate the National System of Protected Areas (SNAP) throughout the national territory. It was created by the 2006 framework decree of the said Ministry in order to ensure environmental management and the regulation of the conduct of citizens for sustainable development.
He recalled that it was on August 26, 2013, that the Moniteur published the declaration of the Southwest Marine and Coastal Complex as a protected area under the name of “the Protected Area of Managed Natural Resources of Port Salut-Aquin.” These areas have been identified as Key Biodiversity Zones in Haiti given the presence of habitats (mangroves and reefs) and threatened ecosystems sheltering endemic, endangered and vulnerable species according to the red list of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Peguy Jacques, among other things, summarized the characteristics of protected areas in Haiti by highlighting several key aspects:
- Biodiversity conservation: Protected areas play a vital role in preserving unique ecosystems and biological diversity, by protecting natural habitats and maintaining endemic species;
- Reduction of environmental impacts: These areas help to limit deforestation, soil erosion and the degradation of water resources, essential for local communities and the environment in general;
- Sustainable development: By promoting ecological tourism and sustainable agricultural practices, protected areas contribute to economic development while preserving the environment;
- Role of local communities: People living around these areas are encouraged to actively participate in their protection and benefit from the resources in a sustainable manner.
This summary highlights the importance of these areas in the context of the environmental and climatic threats facing Haiti.
For his part, Mr. Prénor Coudo, National Technical Director of Protected Areas at the National Agency for Protected Areas (ANAP) in Haiti, presented a management plan for the Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) of Aquin and Saint-Louis du Sud. This plan aims to preserve and restore the marine and coastal ecosystems of these two regions, threatened by uncontrolled human activities such as overfishing, pollution and coastal deforestation.
It also gave the definition of a protected area as “a clearly defined geographical area, recognized, dedicated and managed, by any effective means, legal or otherwise, in order to ensure the long-term conservation of nature as well as the ecosystem services and cultural values associated with it. (IUCN, 2008).”
The low rate of protected areas in Haiti, which is estimated at only 33 – the lowest in the Caribbean – can be attributed to several factors, according to the observations of the director of ANAP, Agronomist Prénor Coudo. Here are some examples:
- Lack of financial resources: The creation and management of protected areas requires significant investments in infrastructure, monitoring, and conservation. Haiti faces severe economic constraints, which limit the resources available to finance these initiatives.
- Low environmental priority: The environment is not a priority in Haiti and receives only 1% of the national budget, mainly after natural disasters, rather than towards the conservation of biodiversity.
Furthermore, the lack of priority given to the environment in Haiti, with only 1% of the national budget allocated to this sector, has serious and multidimensional consequences on the country, including:
- Accelerated deforestation
Haiti is facing an alarming rate of deforestation, largely due to the cutting of trees to produce charcoal, the main source of energy for the majority of households. The lack of funding for reforestation policies or sustainable energy alternatives is making this situation worse. Deforestation also leads to:
- Soil erosion: Soil deprived of forest cover becomes vulnerable to erosion, thereby reducing the fertility of agricultural land.
- Increased risks of flooding and landslides during heavy rains, exacerbated by climate change.
- Degradation of agricultural land
The decline in soil quality due to deforestation, erosion and overgrazing directly affects agricultural productivity. Small farmers, the majority in the country, are particularly affected, which compromises food security and increases poverty in rural areas.
- Insufficient management of water resources
With little funding dedicated to water management, water infrastructure (irrigation, water catchment) is insufficient or poorly maintained. This leads to water shortages in several regions, affecting crops, livestock, and even the availability of drinking water for populations.
- Increased vulnerability to natural disasters
Haiti is one of the countries most vulnerable to hurricanes, earthquakes and floods. The lack of environmental prevention and resilience measures, such as watershed management or coastal mangrove restoration, increases the impact of these disasters on communities.
- Public health compromised
Poor management of solid waste and wastewater, combined with limited access to safe drinking water, leads to the proliferation of waterborne diseases such as cholera, dysentery, and other diarrheal diseases, especially in densely populated urban areas.
- Loss of biodiversity
Haiti has a unique biodiversity, but this is seriously threatened by the destruction of natural habitats. The lack of funds for the protection of national parks, wetlands and endemic species contributes to the progressive extinction of animal and plant species.
- Negative economic impact
Environmental degradation directly affects key economic sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, and even tourism. The loss of biodiversity and the degradation of natural landscapes can decrease the attractiveness of the country for ecological tourism.
In conclusion, the lack of priority given to the environment in Haiti only worsens the country’s vulnerability to economic, health and climate crises. Stronger commitment and increased financing are essential to reverse this trend and promote sustainable development.
Nancy Roc, September 8, 2024
2024-09-09 21:16:48