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Turning the Tides onHaiti’s Environmental Crisis
Kimberly Starbuck
Urban Harbors Institute, University of Massachusetts Boston
December 10, 2018
Special thanks to…Office of Global Programs,
University of Massachusetts Boston
Urban Harbors Institute
• Applied research institute located at UMass Boston
• Mission: To promote thriving ocean and coastal communities and sustainable natural resources through research, planning, engagement, and education
• Mirebalais Planning Initiative in Haiti
Talk OutlinePurpose
Background
Methodology
Key Findings & Potential Future Work
Conclusions
Project Purpose
Assess major coastal and marine challenges in Haiti
Identify: Past and ongoing projects to
address challengesWays that UHI and UMB may assistPartners and potential funding
sources
Hispaniola
Haiti – Then
Source: Haiti Tourism
SlaveryRevolutionDebt to FranceU.S. occupationPolitical instabilityForeign aid embezzlementNatural disasters
Haiti - NowPoorest country in the Western
Hemisphere
Extreme poverty, natural disasters, political unrest, disease, overpopulation
Vulnerable to climate change
Lack of clean water and solid waste management
Poor environmental conditions
Glimmers of hope
Methodology
Task 1: Conduct pre-trip telephone interviews
Task 2: Conduct site visits and interviews in September 2016
Task 3: Compile results
Cap Haitien
Port-Au-Prince
Petite Riviere de Nippes
Hispaniola
Port-Au-Prince
Petite Riviere de Nippes
Cap Haitien
Key Findings: Coastal and Marine Challenges
Fisheries – overfishing and poor fishing methods
Mangrove destruction
Solid waste management and marine debris
Marine animal exploitation
Deforestation
Water quality
Challenge: Fisheries – overfishing and poor fishing methodsPeople lack food and suffer from
malnutrition
Harvest any fish available to catch
Subsistence fishing
Use small motorless boats
Few fish can be found on Haiti’s coral reefs; reef conditions
Source: Reef Check
Challenge: Mangrove Destruction
Fisheries production, shoreline protection, carbon sequestration
1-3 % of Haiti’s original mangroves remain
Charcoal for cooking
Lack of understanding, enforcement, and alternatives
Challenge: Solid Waste Management and Marine Debris
Challenge: Marine Animal Exploitation
Source: SF Bay View
Source: Jamie Aquino
Challenge: Deforestation
Challenge: Water Quality
General challenges with water quality Drinking water Rivers/lakes Oceans/coasts
Toilets: Only 1 in every 5 people
Fish death, plankton blooms, disease (cholera)
Source: International Action
Past and Ongoing Projects
Marine protected areasCoral regenerationMangrove restoration
Alternate sources of energyEnvironmental education
Economic alternatives/incentivesPlastic waste collection and recyclingResearch on marine animals
Tree nurseries
Future Projects
• Economic alternatives/incentives• Environmental education• (Eco)tourism• Aquaculture• Coral regeneration• Alternate sources of energy• Mangrove restoration• Recycling and composting• Landfills/trash pickup
“There are no hungry conservationists”
Conclusions• Start small• Partner with local organizations• Ecotourism• Food/economic alternatives
Merci!UMass Boston Office of
Global Programs
FoProBiM, The Haiti Ocean Project, TNC
Interviewees
UHI Staff
Edgar, Joe, & Our Car
Questions & Comments
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