Forest: The figures of 2% vegetation cover in Haiti are false
- The author defines forest cover and vegetation cover as distinct terms that cannot replace one another.
- The article states that the last assessment of Haiti's forest resources by the FAO dates from 1946 and that no inventory has been done since.
- MDE (2015) is cited as estimating woody cover, including tree crops, at about 500,000 ha, or 18% of the country.
- CIA estimates cited give forest cover of 3.6% in 2018 and permanent pasture of 17.7%.
- The author concludes that, pending a new inventory, the CIA figures of 3.6% forest cover and 17.7% vegetation cover can be used.
Published by Le Scientifique on November 22, 2022 and written by Marc-Donald Vincent, the article challenges the claim that Haiti has only 2% vegetation cover and less than 2% forest cover. It defines forest cover using the FAO threshold of more than 0.5 hectares with trees over five meters and canopy above ten percent, and vegetation cover as all vegetation covering the soil. The method is descriptive documentary research based on secondary data from theses, journals, statistical and official documents.
The author describes land degradation in Haiti and states that no national forest inventory has been completed since the one the FAO dates to 1946. He cites estimates from the Ministry of the Environment (MDE, 2015), the FAO, the World Bank and the CIA World Factbook. He concludes that until a new inventory is done, users can rely on the CIA figures of 3.6% forest cover and 17.7% vegetation cover.
How to cite
Le Scientifique, 2022, Forest: The figures of 2% vegetation cover in Haiti are false, https://lescientifique.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/wp-1669151160490.pdf
- Rights holder
- Le Scientifique