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