Aligning environmental priorities: lessons from Haiti

Haiti is a country rich in natural beauty and cultural heritage and has been facing significant challenges in preserving its coastal and marine resources. In this piece, Jean Wiener explores possible ways of protecting and preserving biodiversity by inspiring local communities to act.
Aligning environmental priorities: lessons from Haiti
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Having worked on environmental issues in Haiti (often described as the poster child of what NOT to do to your environment) for over 30 years, I am often asked what can be done to stop the continued unsustainable use of resources. Working on sustainability issues with the local population is quite complex in Haiti’s current context, with an absolute need to focus on providing safety and security.

Haiti is a country rich in natural beauty and cultural heritage and has been facing significant challenges in preserving its coastal and marine resources. With many unique ecosystems and fragile habitats these areas are home to a wide range of diverse marine life and provide critical livelihoods for thousands of coastal inhabitants. However, environmental degradation caused by the use of unsustainable practices, and a lack of suitable options, have placed this invaluable biodiversity at risk. Undertaking environmental education and research activities presents an excellent opportunity to inspire local communities to take action, preserve biodiversity, and raise awareness of the urgent need to protect coastal and marine ecosystems for future generations, while also providing environmentally friendly and sustainable alternative income-generating activities that would mesh into a very possible way out of this crisis.

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To begin one must clearly understand the plight of some of the poorest of the poor and the need to simply survive. Some of our “first-world problems”, such as a blackout for five minutes, or my supermarket being out of my favourite coffee simply sound ridiculous to someone who has never had electricity and cannot afford coffee in the first place. So when one hears foreigners, or worse, diaspora, out at a coastal area yelling at someone cutting down a mangrove tree to make charcoal and trying to explain to them that they shouldn’t be doing that because it is deforestation and is bad for the environment, one can’t help but to really wonder who is in more need of help; the supposed educated foreigner who has no clue about the realities and difficulties the tree cutter is going through, or the tree cutter who needs to find a better way to make a living so he can eat every day and take care of daily needs such as medical bills or sending their child to school. To understand the plight of coastal community inhabitants I work with I have stated that if I had to feed and clothe my family, and cutting down the last mangrove on earth was the only way I could do that, I would cut down the last mangrove tree.

Beekeeping, ecotourism, and mariculture initiatives (to name just a very few) can be developed, providing opportunities for local communities to benefit economically from their natural surroundings, diversifying incomes and increasing economic resilience. 

There is a critical need for environmentally-friendly alternative incomes to help Haiti extract itself from the economic despair. Working with local communities over the past decades, I have on several occasions asked them to come up with ideas, on their own, of activities along these lines which they felt they could undertake, and we would provide them with several thousand dollars as start-up funds. To date, no community has ever come forward to claim any funds. It has been my conclusion that they have been stuck doing the same thing for so long that they have not ever even thought about alternatives, as no one had previously suggested this. Beekeeping, ecotourism, and mariculture initiatives (to name just a very few) can be developed, providing opportunities for local communities to benefit economically from their natural surroundings, diversifying incomes and increasing economic resilience.  But these options must be offered and supported by the public and private sectors.

Environmental education plays a critical role in engaging and empowering local communities to become better and active stewards of their natural resources. By providing knowledge and raising awareness about the importance of biodiversity, these individuals can be inspired to take responsibility for protecting their coastal ecosystems. Educational programmes can be designed to target different groups, including women (who are usually responsible for managing household finances), children, fishermen, community leaders, decision-makers, and educators. By involving all of these key stakeholders, a wide-reaching and long-lasting impact can be ensured.

Through environmental education initiatives, communities can gain an understanding of the interconnectedness between human activities and the health of coastal ecosystems. They can learn about sustainable fishing practices, waste management, and the conservation of critical habitats such as mangroves and coral reefs. By fostering a sense of environmental stewardship and emphasising the benefits of sustainable practices, local communities can become partners in preserving the country’s coastal and marine resources.

In conjunction with environmental education, robust data gathering and research efforts are essential in increasing awareness of the urgent need to protect coastal and marine biodiversity in Haiti.

Training programmes can be organised to educate fishermen on sustainable fishing techniques and the importance of respecting catch limits and the adoption of responsible fishing practices to ensure the long-term viability of fish stocks and maintain a sustainable income source for generations to come.

In conjunction with environmental education, robust data gathering and research efforts are essential in increasing awareness of the urgent need to protect coastal and marine biodiversity in Haiti. Collecting comprehensive scientific data allows for informed decision-making, facilitates evidence-based policy decisions, and strengthens the case for conservation efforts.

Research initiatives can involve monitoring and documenting biodiversity hotspots, assessing the impact of human activities, and investigating climate change effects on marine ecosystems. Such data can be used to create comprehensive reports, educational materials, and awareness campaigns. By presenting scientific evidence to policymakers, NGOs, and local communities, a compelling case for the preservation of coastal biodiversity and securing support for conservation measures can be achieved.

Data gathering can foster collaboration and knowledge sharing among stakeholders. By involving local communities in data collection efforts, they can be empowered to become active participants in understanding and protecting their ecosystems. This participatory approach not only strengthens community engagement but also builds capacity and fosters a sense of ownership.

By empowering local communities through education, we can inspire them to become environmental stewards and adopt sustainable practices.

Undertaking environmental education and research activities is a crucial step toward preserving Haiti's coastal and marine biodiversity. By empowering local communities through education, we can inspire them to become environmental stewards and adopt sustainable practices. Such initiatives not only support the conservation of invaluable ecosystems but also promote sustainable incomes and economic opportunities. Additionally, robust data gathering enhances awareness and helps build partnerships between scientists, policymakers, and communities. Although environmental education and research activities can help promote the economic value of healthy ecosystems, all of this is for naught if these communities which are reliant on coastal resources are not provided with, and encouraged to engage in, alternative livelihood options that reduce their reliance on unsustainable and destructive practices.




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