Saturday, March 1, 2014

Part III



                                                Essay                                                

 Description of the main environment threats to biome in Haiti caused by human disturbance. What are they? What causes them? Where are they worst? How do they impact the environment (biotic and abiotic)?

 Detail two ways your country or local government could address and stop those environmental threats (two pages written essays).
Abstract
This paper presents the different challenges the Haitian government has to overcome and strategies that could be used to sustain the environment.  On the other hand, it shows the skates socio-economic and politic that might be presented for creation of the reforestation national project. Flooding and soil erosion are massive problems in Haiti, where only 3% of the once lushly forested country still has tree cover and up to one-third of the land has lost so much topsoil that it is no longer arable, or barely so (Haiti Erosion) [1]. This problem has caused by human activities; however, it can be fixed by the human force. To reforest Haiti, three significant issues have to be resolved together: decreasing unemployment rate, providing others sustainable source of energy, creating laws against cutting trees without legal authority.
 Introduction
The purpose of this document is to identify the different strategy that the Haitian government has to be lead in order to increase the reforestation rate. The topsoil, which is the soil layer where most of the crops roots find nutrient to grow. The loss of this layer has had several socio- economic negative impacts people’s live. Even though, it is really challenging to reforest a whole country. Especially, in a country where the population is facing different socio- economic problem such as:  poor access to education, trade deficit and scarcity of energy which are in priority for the government to resolve. The paragraphs below presented several efficient and effective strategies that the Haitian government could be used to start a national reforestation project.
Methods

I.            Challenge

a-      Haiti has the lowest level of electrification in the Americas. In the countryside, over 70 percent of the population lacks access to electricity [2]. On the other hand, Unemployment is now 90% in Haiti and 80% of Haiti’s people live in abject poverty [3]. Those are the significant economic problems that force people to cut down trees for their survival which cause many hectares of land go to the sea every year.
b-      Reforestation and soil conservation programs costing many hundreds of thousands of dollar. The Haitian government has been facing financial problem; the country's gross domestic product (GDP) in 1987 was approximately US$1.95 billion or about US$330 per capita [5]. The government has to attract big investment and decrease the exportation rate in order to face this financial crisis.
c-      Less than 5 percent of Haiti's land is officially accounted for in public land records, according to the United Nations [6]. A few percent of land is protected by the government. As the result, the land’s owners cut down trees without any control. The challenge of this problem is how the government is going to have a control or take back those lands.
 II.            Strategies
The deforestation and the economic problem are connected; we cannot resolve only one. For this reason, to overcome the erosion; the farmers should have others sustainable source of energy and income in order to stop cutting trees in their land.
Sustainable source of energy:
*      Animal Waste as a Renewable Energy
There are a wide range of animal wastes that can be used as sources of biomass energy. The most common sources are animal and poultry manures. The most attractive method of converting these waste materials to useful form is anaerobic digestion which gives biogas that can be used as a fuel for internal combustion engines, to generate electricity from small gas turbines, burnt directly for cooking, or for space and water heating. Food processing and abattoir wastes are also a potential anaerobic digestion feedstock [7].
*      Municipal Solid Waste
Municipal solid waste can be converted into energy by direct combustion, or by natural anaerobic digestion in the landfill. At the landfill sites the gas produced by the natural decomposition of MSW (approximately 50% methane and 50% carbon dioxide) is collected from the stored material and scrubbed and cleaned before feeding into internal combustion engines or gas turbines to generate heat and power [7].
Improving Agricultural Sector
*      Reduction of loss of farmland’s productivity
Many non-technological methods have been used for years by farmers (contour plowing, abandonment of marginal agricultural lands, planting of wind barriers, fallowing). More efficient methods must be utilized to prevent water shortages, as only 45% of irrigation water is actually absorbed by plants. Drip irrigation and other efficient delivery systems, better water distribution systems, improved control systems, and raising crops suited to the climate and soil will aid in this endeavor [6].
*      Reforming agricultural practices to be less harmful to forests
Among these reforms could be reductions in the use of burning. When the soil is left untilled, organic matter is retained, preserving soil fertility and preventing erosion and runoff.
*      Development of agro-forestry projects
Cash crops might be raised in small-scale agro forestry plots. The integration of trees and shrubs with crops and livestock systems – has strong potential in addressing problems of food insecurity in developing countries. Done well, it allows producers to make the best use of their land, can boost field crop yields, diversify income, and increase resilience to climate change. One of the major potential benefits of on-farm trees is their ability to replenish nutrient-depleted soil,
*      Establish a law against cutting of trees without the permission of a legal authority
The government can publish a law that prohibits cutting down trees in the Haitian territory without the permission of a mandated. The Administrations Tips Local Authorities (CASEC) could be mandated to do this job.
Conclusion
Energy sustainability is about finding the balance between a growing economy, the need for environmental protection and social responsibilities in order to provide an improved quality of life for current and future generations [4]. Finding other inexpensive source of energy, strengthen the environmental law and enhancing the agriculture sector might be one the accurate strategy to protect the remaining trees and reforest Haiti.
References
[1] -Haiti Erosion; [Accessed: December 5, 2013]; available online:  http://www.sciencemag.org/site/feature/misc/webfeat/soilmap/soil_haiti.html
[2]- Inter American Development Bank; IDB supports sustainable energy for rural electrification in Haiti; published May 23, 2013; [Accessed: 2013-12-02]: http://www.iadb.org/en/news/news-releases/2013-05-23/energy-for-rural-electrification-in-haiti,10457.html
[3]- Mission of Hope Haiti; Haiti Now; [Accessed: 2013-12-04]: http://www.mohhaiti.org/about_haiti#.UqDcL2fNkYJ
[4]- Energy4Me; Energy Sustainable; [Accessed: 2013-12-04]: http://www.energy4me.org/energy-facts/energy-sustainability/
[5]- Mongabay.com; Haiti- The Economy; [Accessed: 2013-12-04]: http://www.mongabay.com/reference/country_studies/haiti/ECONOMY.html
[6]- Anastasia Moloney ; reliefWeb; Unclear land rights hinder Haiti's reconstruction; Published on 05 Jul 2010 ; [[Accessed: 2013-12-04]: http://reliefweb.int/report/haiti/unclear-land-rights-hinder-haitis-reconstruction
[
7]- Alternative Energy; Waste as a Renewable Energy Source; September 22nd, 2008; [Accessed: 2013-12-04]: http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/waste-renewable-energy-source/

Extra credit
§ 1- A soils map of your country with soils names and descriptions with source cited.
Source : ftp://ftp-fc.sc.egov.usda.gov/NHQ/pub/outgoing/soils/haiti_soil_suborders_map.pdf

2-A precipitation map of your country with average precipitation amounts with source cited


source: World Trade Press, 2007. Precipitation Map of Haiti [Internet]. Best Country Reports. Available from: http://www.atozmapsdata.com/zoomify.asp?name=Country/Modern/Z_Haiti_Precip





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