Restoring Natural Riches and Strengthening Communities

CARIBBEAN DIVISION | THE WORLD WE DEPEND ON DEPENDS ON US

Haiti was once a lush and richly forested island, but today is known for its environmental degradation, natural disasters and extreme poverty. Recent disasters, including a devastating earthquake in 2010 and Hurricane Matthew in 2016, resulted not only in many deaths but also the destruction of coasts, forests, freshwater sources, communities, livelihoods and homes. Overfishing, unsustainable harvesting of mangroves and forests and unchecked pollution of both land and sea have contributed to the country’s vulnerable state and continue to threaten Haitian communities, livelihoods and natural resources. While Haiti may be the poorest

country in the Western Hemisphere, The Nature Conservancy sees a country of hope and opportunity. Haitians are resilient and optimistic and have unwavering ties to the land and sea. The Conservancy is building on this strength to implement practical solutions that invest in Haitian communities and help restore, protect and manage the natural resources that are the basis of a stronger economy and a sustainable future.

Building Relationships to Protect LivelihoodsBy partnering with local fishing communities, the Conservancy was instrumental in establishing Haiti’s first

A woven basket contains the day’s catch for Jackson Pierre and Baldwen Pierre, fishers in Haiti. © Tim Calver

marine managed area (MMA)—a key step in promoting long-term fish population recovery and sustainability. Conservancy staff built strong relationships with fishers in 26 communities along the south coast and learned what, where and how they fished. Along with making these connections, Conservancy scientists completed the first underwater mapping of Haiti’s seafloor, which helped inform uses of coastal and marine areas to decrease user conflict and improve marine biodiversity. The Conservancy’s collaborative and science-based approach helped spread the word among Haitian fishers that effectively managed marine ar-eas result in improved marine habitat and

Haiti

In 2016, after several years of negotiations, Haiti became the eleventh nation to join the Caribbean Challenge Initiative (CCI). The CCI is an unprecedented collaboration in the region in which each participating country commits to protect at least 20% of its nearshore marine and coastal environments by 2020 and to ensure the protected areas receive

sufficient, reliable funding to sustainably manage them into the future. The Conservancy will continue to help Haiti identify the highest priority sites for protection to meet their CCI commitment and to secure sustainable funding sources.

Updating Antiquated Fishing Laws for a Sustainable FutureWorking directly with fishers while establishing and managing MMAs, it became apparent that most of Haiti’s fishing legislature did not properly address the current issues facing the country’s fisheries. A new Fisheries Sector Action Plan, based on the Conservancy’s input and assessments, will bring Haiti’s fishing laws, which date back to 1977, up to date. The plan, now fully endorsed by the National Fisheries Division of Haiti, offers practical solutions for sustainable fisheries and will influence new policies going forward.

replenished fish populations—securing food for families and sustainable livelihoods for communities.

Managing Marine and Coastal EnvironmentsFollowing the establishment of Haiti’s first MMA along the south coast, the Conservancy has provided ongoing support as Haiti builds a foundation for a National System of Marine and Coastal Protected Areas that will safeguard its marine resources in perpetuity. In 2013, the Conservancy lent scientific expertise toward declaring and developing a management plan for Three Bays Marine Protected Area. Covering 187,000 acres along the northern coast, this area contains one of Haiti’s most highly productive marine ecosystems, boasting significant coral reefs, habitat for endangered species and expansive mangrove forests—about 18% of those remaining in Haiti.

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The Conservancy is working on a national strategy in Haiti to restore habitats that protect freshwater sources and provide endowment funding to permanently support water conservation efforts.

THIS PAGE top to bottom Red mangroves grow along the edge of Baie Liberte in Haiti © Tim Calver; Conservancy staff inspect coral near Baie Liberte in Haiti © Tim Calver

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Protecting Freshwater for Haitian CommunitiesThe Conservancy is working on a national strategy in Haiti to restore habitats that protect freshwater sources and provide endowment funding to permanently support water conservation efforts. For example, in Saint-Michel-de-l’Atalaye the Conservancy conducted a reforestation project, helping the community cultivate 200,000 new seedlings of forest and fruit trees. This replanted forest will not only provide a source of food, it will protect drinking water at its source before flowing downstream into Haitian communities. Going forward, the Conservancy will explore putting into place a Water Fund model that has

CARIBBEAN DIVISION | HAITI

been successful in other Caribbean countries, in which downstream users of freshwater invest in upstream watershed protection to generate long-term funding for sustainable water conservation.

That Haiti was once known as the “Pearl of the Antilles” reminds us of the treasure the country has lost—natural riches that it struggles against severe challenges to restore and revive. The Conservancy is implementing science-based solutions and building strong community relationships to conserve Haiti’s vital marine habitat, protect the livelihoods and families that depend on it, safeguard freshwater for the benefit of communities and build a sustainable future for the Haitian economy and people.

THIS PAGE clockwise Fishers prepare their nets on Ile Permantois, Haiti. © Tim Calver; A sea urchin eats algae off a coral reef near Ile des Amoureux, Haiti. © Tim Calver; Fabenise Mathurin poses with some of her black mangrove seedlings, soon to be transplanted to the nursery area. ©Tim Calver

OUR MISSION: TO CONSERVE THE LANDS AND WATERS ON WHICH ALL LIFE DEPENDS

CONTACT The Nature Conservancy in the Caribbeannature.org/caribbean

Jonah CardilloAssociate Director of Developmentjonah.cardillo@tnc.org646-761-4613

Francisco NúñezDirector, Central Caribbean Programfnunez@tnc.org809-697-9110

@caribbeanTNC

@nature_caribbean

nature.org/haiti