GEO Haiti 2010

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106 GEO HAITI • 2010 4.1 The Eco-regions of Haiti Haiti possesses six ecological regions: the rainforest, the dry forest, the pine forest, the mangrove and the wetlands are the five land-based eco-regions. The marine eco-region contains animal and plant species as well as coral reefs 39 . 4.1. Rainforests Rainforests originally occupied 3/5 of all original vegetation of Hispaniola. Presently in Haiti, the vestiges of these forests can be found on the Tiburon Peninsula in southern Haiti, of capital importance to the habitats in this region for the conservation of endangered species (World Wildlife Fund). These forests are home to flora and fauna, some of which are endemic to Hispaniola or to a section of the island. Among the main fauna species are mammals such as the hutia or Zagouti (Plagiodontia aedium), endemic to the island and on the IUCN Red List. There is also the Solenodon (Solenodon paradoxus), endemic to Hispaniola 40 , birds such as the parrot of Hispaniola (Amazona ventralis) and the Trogon Damoiseau (Priotelus roseigaster), both endemic to Hispaniola and currently endangered, and some twenty types of bats, native to Hispaniola. Unfortunately, forest fires, the use of plants as firewood, the expansion of farmland and of livestock grazing, as well as hunting have caused the destruction of their habitat and a net decline in the number of rainforests 41 . 4.1.2 Dry Forests Vestiges of dry forests are still to be found in Haiti’s Morne St Nicolas (Northwest). A variety of trees and shrubs such as Bayahondes (Prosopis juliflora), the gum tree (Bursera simaruba), the acassia (Cassia macracantha), tamarind (Tamarindus indica) and basswood (Simaruba glauca) can be found as well as various varieties of cacti such as the (Pilosocereus polygonus). Figure 53: An Example of Dry Forest Source: Jean Vilmond Hilaire Bird life in Haiti is particularly remarkable, and we can cite: the dusky Thick-knee (Burhinus bistriatus), a very discreet specie, which feeds on insects and small lizards; the slave palm or palm bird of Hispaniola (Dulus dominions) which is endemic to the island; a parrot endemic to the island (Amazona ventralis) and the master-wood owl (Asio stygius) which is also endemic and on the list of critically endangered species (Latta et al, 2006). Human activities such as the expansion of agricultural and human settlements have greatly contributed to their reduction. 4.1.3 Pine Forests Pine forests are to be found in La Visite Park (La Selle mountain range) and in the Pine Forest (Southeast Province). They are also present in Macaya Park (La Hotte mountain range, South Peninsula). One type of pine, the Pinus occidentalis is endemic to the island. These pine forests are found at elevations above 2,000 m (the La Selle 39 www.panda.org et www.nationalgeographic.com 40 www.panda.org 41 www.nationalgeographic.com
State of the Environment Report 2010 mountain range at 2,680 m and the La Hotte mountain range at 2,347 m) which provide a temperature of a few degrees lower. Figure 54: Pine Forest Source: Jean Vilmond Hilaire 4.1.4 Wetlands Haiti has several wetlands, of which the most important are Étang Saumâtre (Brackish Pond), or Lake Azuei (170 km²) located in the West Province, near the Dominican Republic border, and Étang Miragoâne (Miragoâne Pond- 7 km²) located in the Province of Nippes, in the south of the country. Lake Azuei arose from the backflow of water from the sea and Étang Miragoâne consists of water trapped in a depression brought by major faults. Alike other significant wetlands, the following are noteworthy: Etang Bois-Neuf (Pond), located in the Artibonite Valley, the artificial lake of Péligre, located in the central part of the country; Saut-de- Barril in the Province of Nippes, and Trou-Caïman (Western Province) and other wetlands in the rice fields of the Artibonite Province. Figure 55: Wetland 107 These pine forests are home to several rare species of birds, many of which are endemic to Haiti. There are a large number of breeding birds such as: Ridgway’s Hawk (Buteo ridgwayi), an endemic and critically endangered bird, the parrot or parakeet Mistress of Hispaniola (Aratinga chloroptera) endemic and threatened of extinction; the Tody Recorder (Todus angustirostris) endemic to the island; the Musician bird or Solitaire Whistler (Myadestes genibarbis), the La Selle Thrush (Turdus swalesi) and Mountain Tanager (Xenoligea montana), both endemic to Hispaniola, and threatened of extinction. These forests, alike the previous regions, are not immune to the devastating effects of agriculture, free-range livestock rearing, use of fuel wood and the establishment of sawmills within the park 42 . Source: Antonio Perera Wetlands, particularly Étang Saumâtre and Miragoâne, provide the habitat for many water dependent species. Brackish Pond is the primary home to some species of reptiles such as the American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus), and aquatic birds such as flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber). In winter, the following migratory species settle there: Willet (Catoptrophorus semipalmatus), or Snipe Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes), the Double-Banded Plover (Charadrius vociferus), 42 www.nationalgeographic.com
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