Evalyasyon Biodivèsite ak Forè Twopikal Ayiti

Haiti 118/119 Biodive rsity and Tropical Forest Assessment 1 Haiti Biodiversity and Tropical Forest Assessment (Sections 118 and 119 of the Foreign Assistance Act) Scott Posner Joseph Ronald Toussaint May 2020 USAID / USDA Forest Service – International Programs Haiti 118/119 Biodive rsity and Tropical Forest Assessment 2 Contents ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 3 ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS 4 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 5 1. INTRODUCTION 7 1.1 Purpose 7 1.2 Current USAID Ha iti Program 7 1.3 Methodology 8 2. COUNTRY CONTEXT 9 3. STATUS OF BIODIVERSITY AND TROPICAL FORESTS IN HAITI 10 3.1 Major Ecosystem Types and Status 11 3.2 Status and Management of Forest Resources 12 3.3 Species Divers ity and Status 13 3.4 Genetic Diversity 14 3.5 Status and Management of Protected Areas 17 3.6 Status and Management of Key Natural Resources Outside Protected Areas 20 4. VALUE AND ECONOMIC POTENTIAL 23 5. LEGAL FRAMEWORK AFFECTING CONSERVATION 26 5.1 Laws and Policies 26 5.2 Internat ional Agreements 28 5.3 Government of Haiti 29 6. THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY AND TROPICAL FORESTS 34 7. ACTIONS NECESSARY TO CONSER VE BIODIVERSITY AND TROPICAL FORESTS 43 8. EXTENT TO WHICH THE MISSION MEETS THE ACTIONS NEEDED 45 9. RECOMMENDATIONS 49 REFERENCES 53 Appendix 1. Teleconference Interviews for the Assessment of Biodiversity and Tropical Forests 57 Appendix 2. Biodata Sketch of Team Members 77 Haiti 118/119 Biodive rsity and Tropical Forest Assessment 3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Haiti Biodiversity and Tropical Forest Assessment Team is very grateful for the logistical, administrative, editorial and crea tive support provided by Rebecca Ciciretti, Latin America and Caribbean Program Specialist, USDA Forest Service – Internationa l Programs . Special thanks also to Abdel Abellard, Mission Environmental Officer, USAID/Haiti for his valuable insights and in - cou ntry coordinating . Finally, t he Team would like to extend their appreciation to the many resource persons, technical speciali sts and organizational representatives who agreed to speak with the team and who provided information, documentation and stimulati ng discussion on a wide variety of environment and natural resource issues. For a complete list, please see Appendix 1. Haiti 118/119 Biodive rsity and Tropical Forest Assessment 4 ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS AECID Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo ANAP Agence Nationale des Aire s Protégées ASEC Communal Section Assembly AVSF Agronomes et Vétérinaires Sans Frontières BSAP Brigade de Sécurité des Air es Protégées CASEC Communal Section Administrative Council CATIE Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center CEPF Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund CGHS Conseil Général des Hauts - de - Seine CIAT Comité Interministériel d’Aménagement du Territoire CITES Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna CODE Collectif pour le Dévelop pement CROSE Coordination Régionale des Organisations Paysannes du Sud - Est DISE Direction de l'Inspection et de la Surveillance Environnementale EU European Union FAD Fish Aggregation Device or Dispositif de Concentration de Poisson (DCP) FAO Food a nd Agriculture Organization (United Nations) FHB Fonds Haïtien pour la Biodiversi té (Haitian Biodiversity Fund) FoProBiM Fondation pour la Protection de la Biodiversité Marine FREH Fonds pour la Réhabilitation de l’Environnement Haitien GEF Global Env ironment Facility GTAP Groupe Technique d’appui aux Aires Protégées IDB Inter - Am erican Development Bank IIF International Iguana Foundation IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature MARNDR Ministère de l’Agriculture, des Ressources Naturelles , et du Développement Rural MDE Ministère de l’Environnement MPA Marine Protect ed Areas NBSAP National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan NEMS National Environmental Management System NGO Non - governmental organization NORAD Norwegian Agency for De velopment Cooperation OGPAR Organisation des Groupements pour l'Avenir de Rossign ol ORE Organisation pour la Réhabilitation de l’Environnement TNC The Nature Conservancy UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNDP Uni ted Nations Development Program UNEP United Nations Environmental Program, now UN - Environment USAID United States Agency for International Development WINNER Watershed Initiative for National Natural Environmental Resources Haiti 118/119 Biodive rsity and Tropical Forest Assessment 5 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This Biodi versity and Tropical Forest Assessment report has been prepared to provide information and analysis as requested by USAID/Haiti, required by the U.S. Congress, and stipulated in the U.S. Foreign Assistance Act (FAA) of 1961. This report updates the 2016 Bi odiversity and Tropical Forest Assessment report and seeks to provi de a concise and targeted assessment to inform the USAID/Haiti Mission’s strategic planning, program development, and implementation. This assessment includes: • An overview of the status an d value of biodiversity and tropical forests in Haiti; • The institutional, policy and legislative framework for environmental management in Haiti; • An analysis of threats to biodiversity and tropical forests; • Current interventi ons in the environmental sec tor, bi - and multilateral donors, non - governmental organizations (NGOs), the private sector and other institutions; and • An examination of how current activities in the USAID/Haiti portfolio contribute to conservation needs and includes recommendations fo r actions to further those goals. The Caribbean is an internationally recognized biodiversity hotspot and is one of the world’s greatest centers of endemic biodiversity as a result of the region’s geography and climate: an arc hipelago of habitat - rich tro pical and semi - tropical islands tenuously connected to surrounding continents. Haiti is one of the richest countries in the Caribbean in terms of botanical diversity. Haiti boasts a rich fauna as well, of which 75% of species are considered endemic. With a Coastline of 1775 km and a coastal shelf of 5000 km 2 and five main offshore islands, Haiti’s coastal and marine resources include examples of a remarkably varied ecology rich in biodiversity. Less than 2% of the original primary forest ecosystems of Ha iti remain. While many tree planting projects are being implemented , they are mostly aimed at promoting agroforestry and establishment of some tree cover, rather than forest ecosystems. When second growth an d non - native species are included, the land cove r is in the range of 9 - 11%. Accounting for small fragments and sparser patches of agroforestry trees, the total cover could be as high as 29%. While non - native and agroforestry trees provide benefits to bio diversity including soil stabilization and habit at for some birds and terrestrial animals, they do not carry the same significance as primary forest ecosystems. T he remaining primary forest ecosystems of Haiti are globally important and harbor endemic spe cies on the brink of extinction. Since the 2016 biodiversity assessment, 76 more species have been listed as endangered or critically endangered. Officially, the Haitian Government has identified a total of 26 protected areas, six of which were officiall y designated since the 2016 biodiversity assessm ent. Unfortunately, the percentage of effective protected areas is still no more than 0.5% of the surface of the country. However, progress on designating and managing protected areas is being made and ten of the protected areas have management plans and t hree have staff. The greatest threats to biodiversity and tropical forests in Haiti continue to be: • Overexploitation of forest resources • Overexploitation of fishery resources • Excessive cutting and filling of mangrove areas • Pollution and poor waste managem ent • Fragmentation and alteration of ecosystems and habitats • Effects of climate change Haiti 118/119 Biodive rsity and Tropical Forest Assessment 6 The above threats are driven primarily by: • Poverty leading to unsustainable land use practices • Lack of awarenes s related to biodiversity and environmental laws • Weak gove rnance, including political instability and fragility of institutions, lack of sufficient financial support for biodiversity management, and absence of a national environmental policy with well - defi ned action plans • Lack of secure land tenure • Outdated laws related to natural resources and weak enforcement of existing laws The urgency and extent of the threats to biodiversity require actions to address the numerous drivers to the threats simultaneously, throughout the country; this is a complex and somewhat overwhelming situation . The extent to which USAID/Haiti addresses the actions necessary to conserve biodiversity and tropical forests varies by sector, but there are opportunities to in corporate appropriate actions into all programs. Much more can be done for biodiversity and tropical forests and the need is great. Recommendations for future actions and programming are enumerated in Chapter 9. Among those recommendations, are highlig hted: • Strengthen capacity for ANAP, especially in regard to management planning and staffing to support conservation of remaining primary forests and marine biodiversity in protected areas (particularly for Three Bays Park). • Lengthen project time frames to ensure the capacity built is not lost and adequate monitoring can b e done • Continue to balance emphasis on resilient sustainable livelihoods with watershed and ecosystem restoration. • Continue to actively coordinate with other agencies, sharing informa tion on all phases of project planning and implementation • Continue cros s border collaboration with the Dominican Republic to enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of programs including transboundary watershed restoration, marine area protection, and sustainable eco - friendly livelihoods • Include environmental awareness a s a component of all projects • Increase the restoration of mangroves and native forests as a component of projects developed under the next Strategi c Framework • Follow - up with CHRAD and the Ministry of Environment on potential for assistance with g ermplasm centers • Provide the knowledge and means for sustainable living, followed up by enforcement of resource protection • Enable effective resource prote ction by strengthening use and tenure laws, awareness and enforcement abilities • Strengthen capacity fo r fire control and planning in protected areas Haiti 118/119 Biodive rsity and Tropical Forest Assessment 7 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Purpose As part of the documentation for the new five - year Strategic Plan, USAID/Haiti is required by Sections 118 and 119 of the Foreign Assistance Act to complete an analysis of trop ical forests and biological diversity in Haiti. Summary of relevant parts of FAA Sec 118 and 119: “FAA Sec 118 (e) Country Analysis Requirements. Each country development strategy statement or other country plan prepared by the Agency for International Development shall include an analysis of 1) the actions necessary in that country to achieve conservation and sustainable management of tropical forests, and 2) the extent to which the actions proposed for support by the Agency meet the needs thus identified.” “FAA Sec 119 (d) Country Analysis Requirements. Each country development strate gy statement or other country plan prepared by the Agency for International Development shall include an analysis of 1) the actions necessary in that country to conserve biologica l diversity, and 2) the extent to which the actions proposed for support by the Agency meet the needs thus identified.” In order to integrate environment issues into USAID/Haiti’s new five - year strategic plan, it is necessary to conduct an analysis of the cu rrent status of tropical forests and biodiversity in Haiti, identify actions needed to conserve biodiversity and tropical forests, assess the current and planned activities of other donor programs and stakeholders in meeting these needs, and analyze the pl anned activities of USAID/Haiti in reference to the actions needed. 1.2 Curr ent USAID Haiti Program The USAID/Haiti Strategic Framework (FY 2018 - FY 2020) operates with the goal of Foundation for resilience, stability, and inclusive growth reinforced . T o achieve this, USAID/Haiti focuses its programming around four development o bjectives (DOs): • Independence and accountability of Government of Haiti institutions improved • Economic and food security advanced • Health outcomes improved • Education outcomes im proved USAID/Haiti is expanding resilience programming; it is the biggest resilience program outside of Africa. Although the Mission has moved away from concentrating their program in corridors, they have identified 3 Resilience Zones for priority. The priority zones were based on consultations Haiti 118/119 Biodive rsity and Tropical Forest Assessment 8 with the Government of Haiti and other stakeholders. While the Resilience Zones are emphasized, there is also development work being funded country wide . USAID/Haiti is in the process of updating their 5 - ye ar Strategic Framework . New Development Objectives will be drafted in mid - summer and the plan is to have the Strategy completed by the end of 2020. This assessment serves as a planning tool to assis t the Mission in better integrating environment issues i nto their updated Strategic Framework and programs. 1.3 Methodology This country analysis has mainly been a compilation and review of existing information, coupled with analysis, synthesis, and cor roboration and feedback from major players. Travel rest rictions brought on by the Covid - 19 pandemic in early 2020 prevented on - site visits for this assessment. Instead, fourteen teleconferences were held to interview key institutions and stakeholders, re levant literature was reviewed, and program plans from a gencies involved in biodiversity protection were assessed. This analysis updates the 2006 “Haiti Country Analysis of Tropical Forestry and Biodiversity” by D.B. Swartley and J.R. Toussaint, the 201 0 Haiti Biodiversity and Tropical Forest Assessment (Pos ner, Michel and Toussaint) and the 2016 Haiti Biodiversity and Tropical Forest Assessment (Posner and Toussaint). This 2020 analysis provides updated information reflecting the changed environmental conditions as well as changes in the socio - political cir cumstances. The focus of this analysis is threefold: 1. Assess the conservation status of biodiversity and forests in Haiti; 2. Identify actions necessary to better conserve biodiversity and tropical forests; and 3. Describe how, and to what extent actions in USAID/Haiti’s operational plans meet, or could meet, the biodiversity and tropical forest needs thus identified. This assessm ent also examines the following : • Whether the planned activities and investments are not likely to adversely affect tropical forest ry and biodiversity. • Other issues and opportunities related to forestry and biodiversity conservation for USAID assistance that may match the Mission’s overall strate gy. Haiti 118/119 Biodive rsity and Tropical Forest Assessment 9 2. COUNTRY CONTEXT Haiti is situated on the western third of the island of Hispa niola, located between 18˚ and 20º north of latitude and between 71˚30 and 74˚ 30 west of longitude (Figure 1). Haiti’s landscape (27,750 km 2 ), consists of rugged mo untains interspersed with coastal plains and river valleys. The country has been divided into 10 Departments (Provinces): Artibonite, Centre, Grande - Anse, Nippes, Nord, Nord - Est, Nord - Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud - Est . Haiti also has five satellites islands (totaling 954 km 2 ), namely Ile de la Tortue (off the north coast), Ile de la Gonâve (northwes t of Port - au - Prince), Ile - à - Vache (off the southern tip of southwestern Haiti), Les Cayemites (off the north coast of the Southern Peninsula) and the dispu ted island of Navassa. Figure 1. Haiti in the Caribbean Islands. Source: CEPF 2010 Haiti 118/119 Biodive rsity and Tropical Forest Assessment 10 3. STATUS OF BIODIVERSITY AND TROPICAL FORESTS IN HAITI Although affected by severe issues of environmental degradation, the country is endowed with an enviable biodiversity which is an undeniable asset (Erlich et al. 1987). In fact, its insularity and mountainous terrain give rise to a multiplicity of microclimates that some might call “biological or living jewels”. The CEPF in its 2019 Ecosystem Profil e: The Caribbean Islands Biodiversity Hotspot has identified a total of 30 (up from 17 in 2010) Key Biodiversit y Areas for Haiti (Figure 2) with three Wholly Irreplaceable Sites (so named because they contain the only known populations of at least one gl obally threatened species), namely Dame - Marie (Grande - Anse Department), Cayemites - Barraderes (Nippes Department) and Port - de Paix (Northwest region). Detailed descriptions of the Key Bio diversity Areas can be found at http://audubonhaiti.org/wordpres s/wp - content/uploads/2012/09/KEY - BIODIVERSITY - AREAS - OF - HAITI_FINAL.pdf Figure 2. Key Biodiversity Areas in Haiti. Source: CEPF 2019 Haiti 118/119 Biodive rsity and Tropical Forest Assessment 11 3.1 Major Ecosystem Types and Status Haiti has a tropical climate with two main wet seasons: northeast trade winds bring rain from April to June, and northerly winds bring drizzle from about September through November. However, the topography produces sign ificant regional (and altitudinal) differences in temperature and rainfall. The resultant vegetation varies from s ubtropical very dry forest where cacti and scrub predominate (Northwest and Northeast regions), to tropical montane wet forest at higher altit udes where Hispaniolan pines ( Pinus occidentalis) and temperate vegetation thrive. Wetlands, lakes, lagoons, estua ries and a varied coastline provide additional diversity. In 1925, Haiti was significantly more forested , with around 60% of its origi nal forest ecosystems . Deforestation during French colonial times, followed by post - independence exploitation by foreign lumber companies, cutting for charcoal production, and land clearing for subsistence agriculture greatly diminished the forest ecosyst ems. Geo Haiti (2010) highlighted a 53% reduction in 2000 of the existing forest area in Haiti before 1990. The r eduction was only 11% during the same period in the other regions of Figure 3. Forest Cover in Haiti (Source Central America and the Caribbean . Today, http://www.fao.org/forestry/country/en/hti/ ) 98% of the original forest is gone (Figure 3). The remaining vegetated areas are also excessively exploited. Table 1 presents an overview of the types of vegetation and their coverage in Haiti . Table 1 . Types of Vegetation and their Coverage (%) in Ha iti Types of vegetation Percentage of Haitian territory Agroforestry 18.3 Forests 2.6 Intensive cultures 44.1 Wetlands 1.4 Mangroves 0.7 Undergrowth 31.8 Pasture 1.1 Source: Hilaire, 2005 cited by Geo Haiti 2010 Haiti 118/119 Biodive rsity and Tropical Forest Assessment 12 3.2 Status and Management of Forest Resources Narratives of Haiti’s forest cover have been subject to conflicting statistics for decades . T o this date the exact forest cover remains a subject of debate among experts and policy makers (see Churches et al . 2014, Tarter et al. 2016, Hedge s et al . 201 8 , and Wampler et al . 2019). For example, multiple well - known sources since the 1980s have reported the forest cover of Haiti to be 1.5% or 2%, while more recent analyses have raised questions about the accuracy of these two figures , one even claimi ng “Haiti is covered with trees” (Tarter 2016). A combination of factors seems to explain the situation , such as differences in methodology used for remote sensing analyses, lack of peer - reviewed data sources, and lack of specificity on forest categories ( primary forests, secondary regrown forests, reclassification of primary forest to “ other naturally regenerated forests” etc.) . Further complicating the subject , there is confusion between deforestati on and degradation of forests ( trans formation into anoth e r land use vs reduction of potential supply of benefits fro m the forests) as well as reforestation for ecosystem restoration vs tree planting for biodiversity . This debate is a great source of confusion for national policy makers in terms of planning. Th i s is even more complicated since the H aitian government has not yet adopted a standardiz ed forest definition in terms of minimal land area they should consider as a forest, tree density, canopy cover criteria, ecological functions , and stand s of trees tha t should be excluded from the definition ( e.g . fruit plantations, agroforestry systems, trees in urban parks and gardens) . Bearing all of this in mind, the most common notion among the H aitian government is that Haiti’s forest cover is under extreme stres s and the country has very little forest remaining. The 2015 FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment estimates the current forest cover in Haiti to be 3.5%. Virtually all of the original primary forest of Haiti has been removed or altered. Despite numerou s reforestation projects (artificial regeneration accounts for one - third of Haiti’s current forest cover), Haiti continues to lose approximately 800 ha of forest cover each year (FAO 2015). The FAO forest cover estimates are based on coarse scale f orest t yping and do not include patches of trees less than 0.5 ha, nor does it include areas of fruit tree production and agroforestry. Thus, there is a difference between forest cover and tree cover. Fine scale analysis, which included agroforestry, s parse f ragments, and linear bands of tree cover, estimates total tree cover in Haiti as high as 29% (Churches et al. 201 4 ). A 2016 USAID Geocenter land cover analysis (USAID 2016) assessed several categories of tree height and canopy cover and suggested a possib le range of existing forest cover in Haiti between 9 - 11%, including agroforestry. While the higher estimates of tree cover are comprised mostly by areas of sparse tree cover (primarily non - native species such as mesquite Prosopis juliflora ), rathe r than native forest ecosystems, even sparse tree cover has value for biodiversity and watershed stability. However, those estimates should not be confused with native forest cover, especially primary forest, which continues to be lost at an alarming rate and is truly the key indicator in terms of biodiversity in Haiti. Primary forest in Haiti declined from 4.4% of total land area in 1988 to 0.32% in 2016 Haiti 118/119 Biodive rsity and Tropical Forest Assessment 13 (Hedges et al. 2018). In general, it is estimated that 16% of the national territory is completely dev oid of vegetation (Geo Haiti 2010). In 2013 President Martelly launched a program to double the forest coverage in Haiti by 2016. The program called for planting 50 million trees per year and attracted interest from around the world. From major donor a gencies and corporations to private foundations and church groups, a myriad of tree planting projects were started. Most of the trees are planted for agroforestry and very little planting has been done to restore native forest ecosystems. No one really k nows at this point how many trees or which species have been planted, the survival rates, or the long - term viability of those plantings. 3.3 Species Diversity and Status As mentioned previously, Haiti is a rich biodiversity hotspot. The following infor mation has been updated from the USAID 2016 report to describe the species richness and species at risk in Haiti. Unfortunately, the number of Critically Endangered, Endangered, and Vulnerable species continues to rise (Table 2). Some of the increase has been d ue to more assessments being completed, particularly for reptiles and plants, but it is clear that the situation is not improving. Table 2 . Species diversity and conservation status of major taxa in Haiti. Taxa # Species # Critically Endangered # Endang ered # Vulnerable Amphibians 57 1 31 12 (+1) 7 Birds 258 1 6 (+1) 12 (+4) Fish 932 2 3 ( - 3) 21 (+1) Mammals 38 2 ( - 1) 3 Reptiles 132 1 18 (+15) 23 (+17) 13 (+8) Plants 5242 30 (+21) 34 (+25) 30 (+6) Data from: IUCN Red List http://www.iucnredlist.org accessed April 21, 2020. 1 Supplemental Data from: Caribherp, http://www.caribherp.org Numbers in () show change since 2016 FLORA Despite severe problems of envir onmental degradation in Haiti, Hispaniola has the second most diverse flora in the Caribbean, after Cuba. The Flore d’Haiti (Barker and Dardeau 1931) suggests that over 5,365 vascular plant species were found in Haiti in the early 20 th Century. It has been estimated that among these plants, 37% are endemic. Between 21 - 24 palm species are known to occur in Haiti and up to a quarter of these species might be considered endemics (Henderson et al. 1990). Most of these palm - tree s are becoming rare and those wh ich are endemic are particularly threatened by extinction. FAUNA Haiti boasts a rich fauna as well, of which 75% are considered endemic. Haiti 118/119 Biodive rsity and Tropical Forest Assessment 14 Mammals: There are 38 native mammal species in Haiti . Two end angered native mammals of special significance occur in Haiti: the Haitian Hutia or zagouti ( Plagiodontia aedium ) and the Giant Island Shrew or the Nez long ( Solenodon paradoxus ). Both are likely extirpated over much of the ir native range. The highest di versity among the native mammals in Haiti is among bats. There are seventeen bat species of which seven taxa, including species and sub - species, are considered endemic. The remainder of the native mammal diversity is aquatic and includes the West Indian Ma natee ( Trichecus manatus ), twelve whale and six dolphin species. Birds: The Hispaniolan avifauna exhibits exceptional levels of endemism. Haiti supports 258 species of birds and 36 are range restricted species, one of whi ch, the grey - crowned palm tanage r ( Phaenicophilus poliocephalus) is endemic to Haiti. The majority of the range restricted species are confined to, or occur in habitats above, 1,000 m, emphasizing the importance of mixed montane broadleaf - pine forest. Re ptiles and Amphibians: Hispanio la is known to host 254 species of reptiles and amphibians (caribherp 2020). Approximately 75% of this diversity has been recorded in Haiti. Ninety five percent (95%) of the species are endemic to Hispaniola with about a th ird of the species occurring onl y in Haiti. Two terrestrial iguanas are recorded: the rhinoceros iguana Cyclura cornuta and Ricord’s iguana Cyclura ricardi. Haiti harbors an exceptional fauna of terrestrial frogs. Unfortunately, 50 of the 57 species of amp hibians in Haiti are at risk (Ta ble 2), some at the verge of extinction. Fish: Most of the 932 fish species in Haiti are marine species (sharks and rays are also included in this number). Of the approximately 42 freshwater species, about 25% are endemic, while about 10% are introduced carp and tilapia (Froese and Pauly 2010). Among the highlights of the Three Bays Baseline Ecological study (Kramer et al. 2016) is the discovery of a new species of fish for science – the Haitian Barred Hamlet, known to exis t only in Fort Liberté Bay and t he confirmation of the discovery of an endemic freshwater fish Limia paucuridata in the Trou du Nord river. Corals and Sponges: The staghorn coral ( Acropora cervicornis ) and the elkhorn coral ( Acropora palmata ) that were p reviously common in the Caribbea n during the 1970s, making up some 30% to 50% of most reefs, have now almost disappeared due to a disease. Both of these species are now on the US Endangered Species List. Because of their rarity in the Caribbean as a whole, the high numbers and wide distr ibution of healthy populations of these species in Haiti are regionally significant as a potential source of larvae to help re - populate other areas downstream of the biological corridor on both the north and south coasts of the country. The sponge communi ties in Haiti are diverse and include very large colonies such that they provide habitat and structure similar to coral reefs. 3.4 Genetic Diversity The high rate of endemism in Haiti combined with the high proportion of species at risk puts the genetic d iversity of Haiti in a precarious position. While the key to maintaining genetic diversity in Haiti is the preservation and restoration of habitat fo r native fauna and flora, the advanced state Haiti 118/119 Biodive rsity and Tropical Forest Assessment 15 of degradation of those habitats requires additional actions be taken. A variety of agencies and organizations are involved in in situ and ex situ programs designed to protect and maintain genetic diversity in Haiti. Some of the key initiatives are described below. CHRAD Centre Haitien de Recherche en Amenagement et en Developpement S.A. (Haitian Research Center for Planning and Development, Inc.) is a private think tank that organized to address issues relate d to deforestation, pollution and climate change (see interview notes, Appendix 1). To address deforestat ion and habitat loss, they spearheaded an ambitious program to finance, design, establish, guide operations, and transfer to the Haitian government si x Forest and Fruit Growing Trees Germplasm Centers (FGC) throughout Haiti. According to CHRAD, a FGC is a technical infrastructure for reproduction and propagation of higher varieties of fruit growing and forest species dedicated to positively influence t he demand for wood and edible fruits through the production of and planting of trees. The FGC also refers to a technical infrastructure targeting the conservation of the diversity of forest and fruit growing genetic resources, namely all values (environmen tal, social, economic, cultural and scientific) represented by a forest or fruit growing species. The cen ters are producing 23 species of trees, primarily agroforestry related species such as coffee and cocoa, as well as breadfruit, avocado, mangos, cashe ws, guava, citrus and moringa. CHRAD promotes genetic diversity by favoring native species and selecting disease resistant genetic stock. CHRAD is also planning to plant rare and endangered species, such as Kajou Peyi ( Swietania mahogani ), Gaïac, the lign um vitae, ( Guaiacum oficinale ) and Mapou ( Ceiba pentandra ), a giant sacred bombacaceae in Haitian vodoo, w hich is endangered . With the capacity to produce 5 million seedlings per year, the germplasm centers are a key resource for enabling watershed stabil ization through the soil - holding function of agroforestry trees, as well as being able to provide native s pecies for future reforestation efforts. The National Botanical Garden of Haiti (JBNH) at Source Zabeth (Ganthier, West Dept.) was started in 2017. This center for public education, conservation of biodiversity and promotion of sustainable development is the result of a partnership between various actors, including three Ministries (Education, Environment, and Agriculture), the Faculty of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine, the State University of Haiti, the Haitian National Commission for Cooperation with UNESCO, the Ganthier City Council and the Board of Directors of the 2nd Communal Section Balan, of the same commune. Article 256 of the amended Haiti an Constitution of 1987 directs the establishment of National Botanic Gardens, although this is the first one. JBNH has goals for environmental awareness, sustainable development, research, conservation of threatened plants ex situ, and provision of plant s for restoration projects. In addition, JBNH has a vision of at least 60% of the genetic diversity of pla nts cultivated in Haiti, including their wild relatives, and that of other plant species with socio - economic value are preserved in the Garden, while respecting and preserving local knowledge. Les Cayes Botanic al Garden promotes and conserves the nation ’s biodiversity. The 8 ha privately organized Cayes Botanical Garden is one of the few institutions in Haiti that hold the botanical and horticultural expertise required to improve the country’s restoration success. In Haiti 118/119 Biodive rsity and Tropical Forest Assessment 16 addition to completing baseline flori stic surveys, the botanic garden has established na tive plant plots within its grounds to gather important ecological information to guide future restoration efforts ( https ://www.jardinbotaniquecayeshaiti.org/restauration - ecologique ). The garden was severely damaged when Hurricane Matthew hit the island on October 4, 2016. Most of the botanical garden facilities and the garden's living collection of Haitian flora were d estroyed. Since then , Les Cayes Botanical Garden h a s been recovering and has re gained most of its operational functions. Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Miami, Florida (http://www.bgci.org): As part of the official agreements signed between the Cayes Botanic Garden, the National Botanic Garden of the Dominican Republic , and the College of Arts and Sciences o f Flo rida International University , there are three joint projects in development: (1) Capacity building for botanists and environmental biologists from Haiti at the National Botanic Garden of the Dominican Republic; (2) Conservation biology of Haitian pal ms, and (3) Plant endemism in Haiti. These studies build on a 20 year fruitful collaboration established with the National Botanic al Garden of the Dominican Republic and on the extensive field/taxonomic experience of Dominican Republic botanists. The Botan ic al Garden of the Dominican Republic has played a major role in ex situ conservation of Haitian endemics. Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden has a seed orchard growing the rare Haiti endemic palm Attalea crassispatha . Since only a handful of these critic ally endangered trees remain in Haiti and the native habitat is severely degraded, botanic gardens are the best hope for survival of the species. It is hoped that this ex situ conservation of the species will provide seed for conservation work. Their orcha rd r epresents almost as many plants as are left in Haiti. Conservatoire Botanique de Brest in France was funded by CEPF to identify rare and threatened plant species from the Forêt des Pins protected area in Haiti and develop activities for their long - ter m su rvival to be integrated into the forest's management plan. A special in - vitro reproduction program, prior to reintroduction in the wild , was planned for Ekmann's Juniper ( Juniperus gracilior var. ekmanii ), one of Earth's rarest trees with only seven spec imens remaining in Haiti and a few trees in the Dominican Republic (Farjon 2013). Following the 2016 departure of the project manager, the rescue actions of Ekmann's Juniper were continued at a minimum. The Conservatory is currently cultivating 648 see dlin gs. A new three - year partnership with the Vegenov laboratory and the Yves Rocher Foundation should help to raise seedlings of this critically endangered taxon. The Swiss development organization Helvetas has also been asked to participate in the repa tria tion to Haiti and the future reintroduction of plants produced in Brest and the creation of an endemic plants garden at Forêt des Pins. Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - Temple University’s Center for Biodiversity is working to preser ve H aiti’s biodiversity in a cryobank located at Temple’s Science Education and Research Center (SERC). The Center’s director, Dr. S. Blair Hedges , and his team collect plant and animal tissue in Haiti and store them in the cryobank in the hopes that if a spe cies in Haiti goes extinct, they can use the DNA in the cryobank to re - create the lost animal and plant life. Captive Breeding Programs for A mphibians and Reptiles - Philadelphia Zoo has a captive breeding program to conserve endangered frogs from Haiti. Nashville Zoo has a captive breeding Haiti 118/119 Biodive rsity and Tropical Forest Assessment 17 program for Haitian giant galliwasps ( Celestus warreni ), a vulnerable species of reptile from northern Ha iti, which has historically been reported as locally common, but is now only found in a small protected area. 3. 5 Status and Management of Protected Areas To meet Aichi Biodiversity Target 11 from the 2011 - 2020 Strategic Plan of the Convention on Biol ogical Diversity, 17% of a nation’s territory is required to be in terrestrial protected areas and 10% in marine prot ected areas by 2020. The Haitian Government has officially gazetted 26 National Parks and Protected Zones (both natural and historical) en compassing 99,000 ha terrestrial and 229,000 ha marine habitats or slightly less than 4% and 6% of the country, respe ctively (Table 3). However, the percentage of effective ly protected areas is evaluated at no more than 1% of the surface of the countr y. In relation to the effectiveness of protected area management, none of the areas listed in Table 3 can currently be considered truly protected from degradation. Hedges et al. (2016) estimated that 60 – 75% of primary forest in the two original national parks, Macaya and La Visite, has disappeared since they were declared as protected areas 35 years prior. In both cas es, the rates of primary forest loss (pre - 2000 and post - 2000) were greater than the overall rates for all of Haiti, indicating that protect ion was minimal or nonexistent. Fortunately, progress is being made in the designation, planning, and management of p rotected areas. Ten protected areas now have management plans and Foret des Pins, Macaya, Oyster Lagoon, and Three Bays National Parks hav e staff, but are not fully staffed (ANAP interview, Appendix 1). Haiti has joined other nations in the wider Caribb ean that have established Marine Protected Areas (MPA) with varying degrees of protection for the marine environment. In reality, an MPA in Haiti is a Marine Managed Area reflecting the intention to sustainably and wisely use natural resources, with some n o - take zones for recovery purposes, rather than strict protection. They are mainly concentrated in the near coastal areas (0 - 12 nautical m iles) stretching from the shoreline to the limit of the Exclusive Economic Zone. Haiti’s first MPA was created in Au gust 2013 and is a complex called the Natural Protected Area of Managed Resources of Port - Salut/Aquin (Table 3, Figure 4). The complex inc ludes the National Park in Ile - a - Vache; the protected areas of Grosse Caye/ Aquin wetland, Olivier/Zanglais, Fonds de s Cayes, and Plaine Cahouane; and the Port - Salut Protected Natural Landscape. There are vast seagrass beds and well - developed coral reef s ystems, flamingo and crocodile habitats, as well as a scenic landscape around St. Louis du Sud. This area has an ann ual potential of 100,000 tons of shrimp, however intensive fishing is threatening the marine ecosystem and most of the coral reefs are beco ming covered with silt from eroding hillsides. Haiti 118/119 Biodive rsity and Tropical Forest Assessment 18 Table 3. National Parks and Protected Areas in Haiti TERRESTRIAL PROTECTED AREAS AREA (HA) MARINE PROTECTED AREAS (includes uplands within protected areas) AREA (HA) La Visite National Natural Park * 11,426 Port Salut/Aquin Protected Area Complex ** (6 areas below): Forêt des Pins (Unit I) National Park * 6,786 Ile - à - Vache National Natural Park 11,235 Forêt des Pins (Unit II) National Park * 14,000 Olvier/Zanglais Protected Area 7,553 Macaya National Natural Park ** 8,726 Fonds des Cayes Protected Area 2,365 Marie Jeanne Cave ** 31 Pointe Abacou Protected Area 1,8 40 Grande Colline National Park ** 1,510 Grosse Caye/Aquin Protected Wetland Area 10,974 Grand Bois National Natural Park ** 370 Port - Salut Protected Natural Landscape (Marine and Terrestrial) 9,038 Deux Mamelles National Natural Park ** 2,265 Plaine Cahouane Protected Area ** 5,940 Three Bays National Park 75,614 Historical Park Des Matheux 20,655 Sans - souci Ramier National Historic Park 2500 Jeremie - Abricots Protected Area ** 7,575 Saut - d’Eau National Natural Park 648 Baraderes - Cayemites Protec ted Area ** 87,621 Pèlerin National Natural Park 98 Martissant National Park 13 Primarily Terrestrial, but with a significant marine component: Canapé - Vert Urban National Park 33 Lagon des Huitres (Oyster Lagoon) National Park * 9,640 Péligre Strate gic Interest Reserve 29,995 * Part of La Selle Biosphere Reserve ** Part of La Hotte Biosphere Reserve Haiti’s second MPA, the Three Bays National Park (Parc Nationale des Trois Baies, Figure 4), includes the bays of Limonade, Caracol and Fort Liberté as well as the Lagon aux Boeufs . The park contains the most extensive and healthiest coral reefs, mangroves and other marine/coastal habitats in Haiti (e.g. about 20% of Haiti’s remaining mangroves can be found in the Park, USAID/TNC 2015). Fish and other types of marine life in this a rea are important sources of protein for local communities. The marine habitats also provide the local communities with critical coastal protection. Three Bays National Park is part of a larger seascape which encompasses abou t 200,000 hectares, including t he northwest part of the Dominican Republic (e.g. MonteCristi National Park). Haiti 118/119 Biodive rsity and Tropical Forest Assessment 19 Figure 4. Protected Areas in Haiti More than 87,000 ha of marine, coastal and upland habitats in the Baraderes - Cayemite area and mor e than 7,500 ha in the area of Jérémie - Abricots (Figure 4) were designated as Protected Areas of Managed Natural Resources in 2017. The Nature Conservancy is working on a baseline ecological assessment of the Baraderes - Cayemite area where the coastal bays are naturally protected, but t here has been significant conversion to agriculture in the uplands. In addition to the larger national protected areas, there are small, but important local terrestrial protected areas being established, such as the municip al iguana reserve at Anse - à - Pit res and the Wynne Farm ecological reserve at Kenscoff. Freshwater springs are sometimes protected for the valuable potable water they provide. In the eastern Cul de Sac Plain, at least 17 springs, such as Source Zabeth, are being protected, resulting in s mall parcels (up to 4 ha) of relic tropical forest and habitat for native terrestrial and aquatic species. These small parcels provide a genetic reservoir of native species that could be used to repopulate adjacent areas if e cosystem restoration projects w ere initiated. To enhance the effectiveness of protected areas, national authorities perceive in the Biosphere Reserve approach a way to manage biodiversity as an integral component of economic and social Haiti 118/119 Biodive rsity and Tropical Forest Assessment 20 infrastructure. T he biosphere reserve approach r ecognizes the role played by driving forces such as poverty and current population trends in the erosion of biodiversity within the country. The two designated biosphere reserves in Haiti -- the La Selle Biosphere Reserve a nd the La Hotte Biosphere Reserv e -- encompass 70% of the protected area of Haiti , plus buffer zones for sustainable development. Having officially designated biosphere reserves is important because 1) there will be more local involvement than before, particularly for economic deve lopment, 2) Biosphere Reserve designation will give international status to help get financial and technical assistance, 3) the increased attention brought with the heightened status may improve governance, and 4) it helps ge t organizations working togethe r under one umbrella. The La Selle Biosphere Reserve (Figure 4) is located along the southeast coast of Haiti, bordering the Dominican Republic, and is administered by the Ministry of Environment (CNHCU 2013) in close collab oration with the National Commi ssion of UNESCO. The La Selle biosphere reserve includes La Visite National Park, Forêt des Pins National Park, Lagon des Huitres (Oyster Lagoon) National Park, Lake Azuei and Trou Caїman pond; the latter being considered an Important Bird Area for conserv ation. The Massif de la Selle mountain range contains Haiti’s highest peak 'Pic la Selle' (2684 m) and the second most biodiverse region of the country after the Massif de la Hotte. The area has a great diversity of landsca pes and ecosystems, including r ainforests, mountain pine forests, deciduous forests and high - altitude dry forests. The coastal landscape is dominated by marine coastal ecosystems such as mangroves, lagoons, estuaries and deltas (unesco.org). Associated wi th the La Selle Biosphere Reser ve research and education is the National Botanical Garden being developed near Ganthier (see Section 3.4 page 15). The La Hotte Biosphere Reserve (Figure 4), on the southern peninsula of Haiti, was added to the World Netwo rk of Biosphere Reserves in 2016. Massif de la Hotte, especially the area around Macaya National Park, is recognized as the most important area for biodiversity in Haiti, as well as one of the most critically important ecosystems in the Caribbean region. Efforts to protect Massif de la Hotte have been ongoing since the 1980s and several local NGOs (non - governmental organizations) as well as international NGOs a nd agencies (including, at times, USAID) have been partnering with the Haitian government in th is effort. Some of the current initiatives can be found in Table 9. 3.6 Status and Management of Key Natural Resources Outside Protected Areas Key Biodiversity Areas Thirty - one Key Biodiversity Areas (KBA) have been identified in Haiti (Timyan and Hilaire 2011) due the vulnerability and uniqueness of the animal and plant populations within these areas (Figure 5). While portions of some KBAs are designated protec ted areas, most KBAs do not have protected status and/or management (Table 4). Haiti 118/119 Biodive rsity and Tropical Forest Assessment 21 Table 4. Key Biodiversity Areas of Haiti in relation to Protected Areas KBAs including terrestrial Protected Areas KBAs within Marine Protected Areas KBAs outside Protected Areas 1) Massif de la Hotte (Macaya NP, Grand Bois, Deux Mamelles) 2) Massif de la Selle (La Visite, Forêt des Pins Unit I and II) 1) Lagons du Nord - Est, ( Three Bays MPA), 2) Cayemites - Baradères, 3) Ile - à - Vache (Port Salut/Aquin MPA) 1) Lac Azuei - Trou Caïman, 2) Citadelle - Grottes Dondon, 3) Ile de la Tortue East, 4) Ile de la Tortue West, 5 ) Ca vaillon, 6 ) Chaines des Cahos, 7 ) Dame Marie, 8 ) Dépression de Jacmel, 9 ) Dubedou – Morne Balance, 10 ) Fond des Nègres – L’Etang Miragoâne, 1 1 ) La Gonâve – south coast, 1 2 ) La Gonâve – north coast, 1 3 ) Artibonite Delta, 1 4 ) Madicaque, 1 5 ) Môle Saint Nicola s, 1 6 ) Morne Bailly, 1 7 ) Nan L’Etat, 1 8 ) Neiba d’Haiti, 19 ) Pic Tête Bœuf, 2 0 ) Picmi, 2 1 ) Plaisance, 2 2 ) Port - de - Paix, 2 3 ) Saint Michel de l’Atalaye - Morne Basile, 2 4 ) Côtes du Nord , 25) Rochelois Bank, 26) Arcadins Of the KBAs outside of protected areas, Dame - Marie (Grande - Anse Department), Plaisance (Northern region), Ile de la Tortue, and Môle Saint Nicolas have been identified as three of the five Wholly Irreplaceable Sites in Haiti. Wholly Irreplaceable Sites contain, according to the CEPF (2010) cla ssification, the only kn own populations of many globally threatened species. Important Bird Areas Ten Important Bird Areas (IBA) covering 232 km 2 (less than 1% of Haiti’s land area) have been identified (Birdlife International 2020) and represent the co untry’s international si te priorities for bird conservation. Five of the IBAs are within protected areas: Massif de la Hotte, Massif la Selle, Massif du Nord. More than 155 species of water birds are found in Haiti and key water bird sites outside protect ed areas include Acul Ba y near Cap Haitien; Ile de la Tortue in Basse - terre; Etang Labored - lachaux near Camp - Perrin; and Coquillage, Petit Paradis, Artibonite Delta, Etang Bois Neuf, Sources Puantes, and Etang Miragoâne mangroves. Significant Coastal Hab itats, Ecosystems and We tlands There are deltas, estuaries, coastal plains, and coastal lagoons found along the Haitian coastline. These wetlands provide diverse, renewable natural resources which support mixed traditional economies based on fisheries, the use of forest products and gathering. Coastal lagoons and mangroves are the nursery grounds for many species, both benthic and pelagic. Haiti 118/119 Biodive rsity and Tropical Forest Assessment 22 Figure 5. Key Biodiversity Areas of Haiti (source: Timyan and Hilaire 2011) Coral reefs are scattered along coast al zones in Haiti. They provide food and shelter for resident and migratory species, protect coastal property from tropical storm damage and offer a storehouse for potentially valuable species (pharmaceuticals,