The environmental situation in Haiti

Forest and marine resources.

The Haitian tropical ecosystem is very fragile due to the rugged relief of the terrain.
Haiti is made up of "morros" naturally susceptible to degradation. Just 50 years ago the
country was covered in verdant plains and impenetrable forests inhabited by birds of
all kinds. Forests currently only cover one tenth of the country's total area. The
improper and uncontrolled exploitation of forest resources has led to this situation.
Trees are systematically felled to transform them into coal, the only energy source for
more than 80% of the population. Arable land is overexploited and inappropriate
farming methods are often used. Many of the mountains devoid of vegetation cover
are exploited as seams of sand for the construction industry. As a consequence, these
places present a bleak panorama and the increasing erosion increases the solid load
that slides towards the lowlands. The sources of fresh water that supply the towns and
villages have dropped to disturbing levels. Nobody ignores today the importance of
corals and mangroves in the reproduction of certain marine species. But these
ecosystems are being systematically destroyed, which at the same time impoverishes
marine resources.
What is being done to help the country?
DB Lab, the innovation laboratory of the Inter-American Development Bank Group, will
support the expansion of the capacity of Environmental Cleaning Solutions S.A. (ECSSA)
to recycle plastic in Haiti. Environmental Cleaning Solutions S.A. (ECSSA), a Haitian
recycling company, collects post-consumer discarded plastics and transforms them
into high-quality plastic flakes for export. The field research facilitated the
comprehensive diagnosis of environmental factors related to flooding and the analysis
of risk problems, which made it possible to form proposals for programs and
management techniques for micro-watersheds that drain into the city and
countermeasures. floods and reduce vulnerability to heavy rains and extreme weather
events. We must learn to have a balance in the use of cars, and also know how to use
electricity and water well.

As individuals, we know about the small actions we can take to reduce the emissions
that cause climate change. But what can and should nations do, since their actions are
large-scale and fundamental to the well-being of individuals?

"Healing the natural system is the most feasible, realistic and fair option, as it would
benefit all humanity and species.

Forest and ecological restoration offers multiple ecological benefits, including the reconnection
of forest fragments, the strengthening of green infrastructure, the conservation of biodiversity
and genetic resources.