Forests murdered in Haiti

 

Excellent natural environments where many animal and plant species live, the forests. According to scientific research, they are home to 80% of all terrestrial biodiversity. In general, a forest is therefore a perfect ecosystem. But in addition to this importance, forests have other uses in relation to environmental management. Aware of the multiple importance of this natural environment, the forest, since 2012, March 21 has been declared by the UN as International Forest Day.

Given that Haiti is classified as one of the small island states vulnerable to natural hazards in the face of climate change, the international day of the forest, should it not devote to reflections around the problem of forest management in the country? We believe in it, but unfortunately!

According to all the latest available data, Haiti has less than 5% of its forest cover left. In addition to its geographical position, it is in the eye of natural disasters, the consequence of climate change, in particular. This situation makes more than 93% of its surface and more than 96% of its population, according to OXFAM, exposed to natural hazards.

However, good forest cover especially within watersheds could mitigate some of these risks, particularly flooding, because water management is associated with forest management. The waters that cause flooding, very often, it is because they have not had time to infiltrate the ground. When the ground is bare, during rainfall, the water follows the slopes more quickly instead of infiltrating into the ground. Of course, other geological factors come into play when it comes to water infiltration into the ground, but let’s stay on deforestation.

In Haiti, we have 30 watersheds and hydrographic areas. 25 to 30% of them are naked, according to an article by Mediaterre. This causes flooding. But the water cycle is still disturbed by the phenomenon of deforestation, knowing that trees contribute to generating precipitation and the replenishment of groundwater. Along with flooding and disruption of the water cycle, has bare soil not also benefited humans in other environmental aspects?

All of the world's forests, scientists estimate, absorb 16 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide every year. This amount is equivalent to 40% of global fossil fuel emissions. In Haiti, despite the virtual absence of industrial activities in the country, the emission of carbon dioxide per capita in 2018 is 0.33 metric tons per day (BM, 2022). The weak vegetation cover of the country, in spite of the emission of gases is not rising, is nevertheless fatal for the inhabitants. So, we need trees for the absorption of these gases harmful to the environment, despite this small quantity produced. At this level can we believe that in addition to the need of trees for air purification, are they not also useful for the well-being of man from a medical point of view?

Thinking of both traditional medicine and modern medicine, they are all dependent on forests. In Haiti, traditional medicine, which is based in part on leaves, takes into account more than 50% of Haitians from birth, according to Fritz Deshormes, quotes Alterpresse. And, family medicine, which is a subdivision of traditional medicine, is responsible for 80% of the health of the Haitian population (MN Rousier and Lise-Marie, 2012). As for modern medicine, forests are the sources of many ingredients used to create medicines by technologically advanced countries. You never know if it's not a plant around you that will serve as basic ingredients to make a medicine that will cure a currently incurable disease. Apart from medicine, what do trees provide in terms of energy in Haiti?

As for energy resources, 600,000 households in Port-au-Prince use charcoal, estimates the United Nations. In an article published by Le Nouvelliste in 2017, it is estimated that the coal industry is the largest industry in Haiti. According to the Bureau of Mines and Energy (BME), this industry generated 300 million US dollars in 2012, quotes Le Nouvelliste in the same article. One could imagine how many trees felled, that same year, for this income generated by charcoal. Paradoxically, it is the peasants who practice agriculture as an activity and destroy it at the same time. Because there is a relationship between erosion and deforestation. Deforestation is one of the factors that produces erosion and this in turn takes away the fertility of the soil. The paradox is that woods both produce energy while trees facilitate increased agricultural productivity: to produce charcoal, trees must be cut down and deforestation affects soil productivity. Mediation of forest management must be an imperative for society.

Indeed, whoever attacks trees leads an offensive against himself, given what trees represent for us (man). Trees and us are one. They provide us with ecological, economic, social services, etc. In return, we owe them protection: a real simbiosis is necessary in the country. What is intriguing on this March 21, despite the seriousness of the country's environmental problem, what should the Haitian Ministry of the Environment do on the occasion of this international day dedicated to the forest?

Lopkendy JACOB