A History of Landscape-level Land Management Efforts in Haiti: Lessons Learned from Case Studies Spanning Eight Decades
- Wide consensus exists on the need for landscape-level land management in Haiti, with watersheds identified as the most appropriate locations for effective project implementation due to water scarcity and agricultural dependence.
- Two primary approaches have emerged: 'macro-level' approaches targeting entire watersheds with top-down solutions, and 'plot-based' approaches emphasizing local participation and adaptive management.
- Plot-based approaches have proven more successful in terms of project adoption and sustainability, though they rarely achieve 100% watershed coverage.
- Macro-level approaches often fail due to a priori assumptions, lack of beneficiary participation, and spreading resources too thin across multiple objectives.
- Land tenure insecurity, the need to balance ecological conservation with agricultural productivity, and genuine community participation remain major challenges.
This comprehensive World Bank report examines eight decades of landscape-level land management efforts in Haiti, analyzing fifteen major projects implemented between 1948 and 2014. The study provides crucial historical context by tracing ecological degradation from the colonial period through the 20th century, documenting how deforestation and environmental challenges have shaped Haiti's rural landscape.
The report identifies two primary approaches to landscape management: 'macro-level' approaches that target entire watersheds with top-down solutions, and 'plot-based' approaches that emphasize local participation and adaptive management. Through detailed case studies of projects ranging from the Haiti Pilot Project (1948) to Feed the Future initiatives (2014), the analysis reveals that plot-based approaches have generally achieved better adoption rates and sustainability.
Key challenges identified include land tenure insecurity, the need to balance ecological conservation with agricultural productivity, and the importance of genuine community participation rather than token involvement. The report emphasizes that watersheds represent the most effective geographic units for intervention due to Haiti's water scarcity and agricultural dependence.
The study concludes with recommendations for future landscape management efforts, advocating for approaches that build on existing local practices, ensure comprehensive stakeholder participation, and address the complex interplay between social and ecological factors in Haiti's challenging environmental context.
How to cite
World Bank, 2016, A History of Landscape-level Land Management Efforts in Haiti: Lessons Learned from Case Studies Spanning Eight Decades, accessed via HaitiDocs, https://www.haitidocs.org/doc/wb-2016-history-landscape-level-land