Haiti
Can we predict
what the climate
of Haiti might be
like?
Based on lesson by Beverly Feldkamp, VLHS, Michigan.
Christopher Columbus described the island of Haiti:
“Its lands are high; there are in it many sierras and very lofty
mountains…all are most beautiful, or a thousand shapes; all are
accessible and filled with trees of a thousand kinds and tall, so that
they seem to touch the sky. I am told that they never lose their
foliage, and this I can believe, for I saw them as green and lovely as
they are in Spain in May, and some of them were flowering, some
bearing fruit, and some at another stage, according to their nature.”
Excerpted from “People of the Tropical Rain Forest,” 1988, by Denslow and Padoch.
1904 World’s Fair at St. Louis sketch on Haiti:
…there is no article of commerce produced in the tropics that is not
found or could not be produced in Haiti. Apples, peaches, strawberries,
and blackberries are to be found in the uplands. Tropical fruits also
include sweet and sour oranges, citrons, lemons, bananas, plantains,
pineapples, cocoanuts and pears. The soil seems to be especially
adapted to the cultivation of sugar cane and the most popular of all the
fruits of Haiti is the mango.
Your turn…draw what you think the landscape and vegetation of Haiti looks like.
Is this what you thought Haiti would be like?
What happened???
In reality, much of Haiti is more like this picture. This shows the border
between Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
Haiti
Dominican
Republic
In 1923, 60% of Haiti was forested. Only 1.5% of that forest remains today.
Trees protect land from the
impact of tropical storms,
prevent soil erosion and regulate
the water cycle.
What caused the massive
deforestation in Haiti?
The recorded history of Haiti began on December 5,
1492 when the European navigator Christopher
Columbus happened upon a large island in the region
of the western Atlantic Ocean that later came to be
known as the Caribbean Sea.
Haiti went through a period
of Spanish rule, then French
rule. It claimed its
independence in 1804. It was
a slave nation for much of its
history. In the next 200
years, Haiti would have 20
different constitutions and 14
presidents “for life.”
Why has the
population
grown so
much since
1950?
Haiti Population
1950 = 3.2 million
1970 = 4.2 million
1990 = 6.5 million
Year
1950
1955
1960
1965
1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
2005
2010
2015
2020
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Population
density
118
126
137
149
163
177
197
221
247
266
286
307
330
351
372
392
410
427
442
456
468
This is the number of people per square mile…
Images from Haiti’s capital city, Port au Prince
Haiti’s population also
grew rapidly because it’s
tropical hardwoods were
desired around the
world. Haiti would
export ironwood,
mahogany, logwood and
acacia for making
furniture.
Who’s making the money from selling the
tropical hardwoods?
The increase in population has naturally led to an increased demand for food.
Slash and burn is the most common method of clearing land in Haiti. This kind of
agriculture makes soil useful for only two or three years.
Because of all the excitement from
the 1904 World Fair, Haiti suddenly
had a large number of commercial
farms. These farms were primarily
growing coffee and sugar cane.
Enormous numbers of slaves
were needed to harvest the
trees, coffee and sugar cane.
In the late 1900’s, the US blocked
shipments of fuel to Haiti because of
the continued political problems. This
led to increased deforestation as
Haitians cut trees for fuel. Haitians
found it more difficult to farm without
fuel for equipment.
80% of Haiti’s population
relies on charcoal which
comes from trees
(primarily pine trees), to
cook food.
For many Haitians, selling
charcoal is the only
source of income.
Since most of Haiti’s
population came from
slavery…how will that
cause deforestation?
Do the Haitian’s
understand the
effects of what they
are doing?
Do the Haitian’s have
a choice to solve the
problem?
Your assignment is to complete the chart showing the
causes, effects and solutions to deforestation in Haiti.
We already covered the CAUSES…so mark them down first…
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Increase in human population
Clearing land for food production (slash and burn)
Commercial logging of tropical hardwoods
Lack of understanding or choices
Political problems since 1957
Need for cheap source of fuel
US stopped shipments of oil to Haiti
Commercial farming – plantation crops (coffee/sugar)
What are the EFFECTS of deforestation in Haiti?
SOIL EROSION has turned the
nation's highways into muddy roads,
and the erosion in rural areas has
driven thousands of people into the
cities, which are already overwhelmed
by poverty and overpopulation.
Construction on hillsides and loss of
trees to hold the soil in place are a
huge factor. Natural factors such as
the mountainous terrain and heavy
tropical rains only compound the
devastation.
What are the EFFECTS of deforestation in Haiti?
Remember, Haiti has a tropical
climate with frequent rains and
dangers of hurricanes. The
danger of FLOODING is
intensified because trees are not
available for holding back the
waters and LANDSLIDES
frequently result. Landslides
endanger the remaining forests,
human life and valuable farmland.
An aerial view of floods caused by Tropical Storm Hanna is seen in Gonaives,
Haiti on September 3, 2008. Haiti's civil protection office said 37 of the 90
Hanna-related deaths had occurred in the port city of Gonaives.
What are the EFFECTS of deforestation in Haiti?
EXTINCTION AND ENDANGERMENT
OF SPECIES: As we all know, rainforests
provide the greatest variety of plant and
animal life on earth. 14 of 75 species of
bird in Haiti are in danger of extinction
as well as 100 plant species as the forest
itself.
Parrot
Tanager
Parakeet
Chat
What are the EFFECTS of deforestation in Haiti?
Haiti is surrounded on 3 sides by water and
FISHING use to be a major industry for
Haitians. However, soil washing into the sea has
killed fish as well as the change in water
temperature with no tree cover to cool the
tropical waters. Because there are few trees
left, the CLIMATE is CHANGING in Haiti which
will also affect the growing season.
What are the EFFECTS of deforestation in Haiti?
Would you want to see this?
There has been a huge
DECLINE IN TOURISM
because of the
AIR POLLUTION and
ECONOMIC INSTABILITY
(poor country) in Haiti. There
are HUNGER issues
throughout the country
because much of the
SOIL LACKS NUTRIENTS to
allow the people to grow food.
What are the SOLUTIONS to deforestation in Haiti?
Countries around the world need to be
a part of the solution by providing
FOREIGN GOVERNMENT AID which
will hopefully provide
EDUCATION ON MORE
SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
PROCEDURES.
This FOREIGN INVESTMENT would
hopefully create a change for the
people of Haiti.
Haitians struggle to get the bottles
of oil thrown from a UN truck.
What are the SOLUTIONS to deforestation in Haiti?
There is currently no organized
program for the REPLANTATION
OF FAST GROWING TREES.
Haiti needs trees that can provide
and income as well as produce
roots and foliage to reduce some
of the effects of deforestation.
What are the SOLUTIONS to deforestation in Haiti?
GRAFT MANGO TREES FOR BETTER
QUALITY FRUIT
Mangos have and continue to grow well
in Haiti’s tropical climate. However,
most of the mango trees produce low
quality fruit so the trees are cut down
for fuel or other wood products.
There is a highly desired and profitable
variety of mango which can be grown
through grafting and produce between
$50 and $100 per tree a year.
What are the SOLUTIONS to deforestation in Haiti?
Although not a direct cause or
effect of deforestation, it will be
hard to initiate change in Haiti
without POLITICAL STABILITY.
To reduce air pollution and
dependence on charcoal for
cooking, companies such as SUN
OVENS, International, is
developing ALTERNATE ENERGY
SOURCES such as using the sun to
cook their food.
There is still a lot that needs to change to
improve the lives of the Haitians…