Deforestation in Haiti

The process of deforestation in Haiti has many far reaching social, political and environmental implications. Between 1990 and 2000, Haiti lost an average of 700 hectares of forest per year. The amounts to an average annual deforestation rate of 6%. Various sources cite conflicting numbers, but it is estimated that today, only 3.8% of Haiti’s original tropical forest cover still stands. The remaining forest cover is being threatened by agricultural land expansion and fuelwood collection.



Haiti is a nation that shares an island with neighboring Dominican Republic, and has a population of about 10 million. Although these nations share the same island, there are differences in culture, language and society between the Dominican Republic and Haiti that contribute to the political and social economy of Haiti that allows for poor land use management. There are stark contrasts between the prosperity of each nation, Haiti being the least economically developed of the two. Due to political instability and poor land use management, deforestation of the tropical forests of Haiti continues at an alarming rate. Agricultural expansion has negatively affected forests worldwide, especially in Haiti. Land degradation is a result of intervening variables of land uses over time, especially agricultural crop expansion in the attempt of providing food to Haitians living in poverty. This is important because it highlights a special relationship between the over use of natural resources for the survival of human populations. However, this offers a dilemma. Profitability of forests in a conserved state is low for people living in poverty. This is because achieving minimal standards of living depends highly on food production that requires the clearance of forests. The land upon which forests stand is more valuable cleared than conserved for future generations.

The changes to the majestic tropical land of Haiti are disgusting and horrific. Therefore, not only are the people being exploited to work on plantations, but the forest is also being exploited to make various products that are sold for pennies (anything to get by). Their poverty leave the Haitian people no choice but to cut down their forest to survive. This not only harms the environment and the wildlife but it also harms the people and increases the risk of disastrous consequences to natural disasters. Haitians need a helping hand in guiding them on a path to sustainable development.

Some Resources

We thought you all may be interested in some ways that you can get involved through donations or groups you ca join to affect change in Haiti.

HAITIAN GROUPS

Haiti Support Group Website
www.haitisupport.gn.apc.org/

NDI-Haiti
http://www.ndi.org/haiti

RELATED ARTICLES

Haitian Group Files for action for Kidnapping of president.
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2006/02/02/17997961.php


Rights group launches report for right to water in Haiti.
http://www.maximsnews.com/news20080623rightsgroupslaunchreportonobstructionofwaterhaiti10806231606.htm


Canada Haiti Action
http://canadahaitiaction.ca/?p=85

Haitian exploitation in the Dominican Republic

Exploitation of cheap Haitian labour within the Dominican Republic is what has become the outcome for 500,000 to one million of the Haitian workers working on sugar cane plantations. Systemic racism has resulted in marginalization of Haitian migrant workers in the fields of the Dominican Republic. Imagine working 12-15 hour days constantly holding and swinging a machete, carrying cane and loading it on the truck in scorching heat? That is exactly what these workers do and earn very little doing it. They are hard working people who deserve a fair wage and fair working conditions!

Check out this video we found on labour exploitation in the Dominican Republic:

Haiti's Food Crisis

How could a country that was once considered to have precious land, end up living through these harsh realities? Haiti IS the reality for many people living day by day with very little food (if it can even be considered food) and little social, medical and financial aid to survive every day that goes by. This people need greater accessibility to food that is being grown and sold in their country, they have the right to the basic necessities of life such as food and CLEAN water. As a country with some of the richest soils in the agricultural world, what is lacking is the education of its people to cultivate the land in a sustainable and economical way. The problem is politics, there is no support for many of the local farmers to prosper. Haiti as a nation needs to educate, motivate and fight for their rights as human beings!

Check out this vid on Haiti's Food Crisis:
Food Crisis

National Geographic on Haitian Voodoo

Although Haiti does practice voodoo, it is still a religion and should not be judged or frowned upon. There are many different religions around the world with different values, morals and cultural practices, all of which others may not believe in or agree with, but all in all they are a person's religion. In the end, it is the stigma of the idea of voodoo as an satanic, evil practice when really it encompasses certain features of the Catholic religion. People must elude for the mind set of voodoo as this unearthly practice and begin to realize its true nature, that of a connection to the spirits around them to free others and their souls from the evil spirits stuck on this planet. If you do not believe in it, that's fine, but do not judge others, especially when you're judgement is uninformed or uneducated!

Check out the National Geographic on Haitian Voodoo:

Hands off Haiti Music Compilation CD

So as our research has exposed, foreign aid to Haiti by the Canadian and American governments has often been very controversial. Toronto based Toronto Haitian Action Committee (THAC) is an organization dedicated to raising awareness about Canada's role in the 2004 overthrow of Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. It declares Canada's peacekeeping efforts as a myth, and attempts to shed light on Canada's foreign policy initiatives that do more harm than good in developing countries.

The "Hands Off Haiti" is a music project made in collaboration with the Canada Haiti Action Network (CHAN), a grassroots group of activists based in most provinces across Canada, and the THAC.

As stated on their website http://www.thac.ca/:
All funds raised from sales of the "Hands Off Haiti" compilation album go directly to the Haitian-based grassroots organization "Sant Obsevasyon Sitwayen" (SOS), a citizen watchdog group whose motto is, "Politics is too important to be abandoned to the politicians".

Visit http://www.myspace.com/handsoffhaiti to listen or to purchase this CD, its really provocative and inspiring!

Yele Haiti

Yéle Haiti is a grassroots movement inspiring change in Haiti 

through programs in education, sports, the arts and environment. 

This organization also aims to raise global awareness to severe 

poverty and environmental degradation in Haiti. 

Yele Haiti was established by recording artist Wyclef Jean in 2005, and

has since awarded more than 3000 scholarships to children in Gonaïves, Haiti.

Jean has colaborated with Timberland Earthkeeper

 boots on a new and innovative fundraising project. 

Timberland Earthkeepers(TM) has released Yele Haiti boots

for men, women and kids. For every pair of these boots sold,

Timberland will donate $2 to the Yele Haiti foundation to support 

reforestation in Haiti. I think it is amazing how Wyclef Jean uses 

his star power to raise awareness to issues facing his home land. 

Projects like these are interesting because it works with our insatiable 

need to consume products while contributing to grassroots foundations 

such as Yele Haiti. Although $2 from every boot doesnt

seem like a large amount, these boots and this foundation can provide a way for

people to donate to a very important cause.

These boots can be found in Toronto Get Outside T.O