GEO Haiti 2010

State of the Environment Report 2010
Figure 100: Population Growth Rate
167
2.5
Annual Percentage
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
0.0
1950 - 1955
1955 - 1960
1960 - 1965
1965 - 1970
1970 - 1975
1975 - 1980
1980 - 1985
1985 - 1990
1990 - 1995
1995 - 2000
2000 - 2005
Periods
2005 - 2010
2010 - 2015
2015 - 2020
2020 - 2025
2025 - 2030
2030 - 2035
2035 - 2040
2040 - 2045
2045 - 2050
Source: http://websie.eclac.cl/anuario_estadistico/anuario_2008/esp/index.asp
A reduced growth rate is crucial to mitigating the
current pressure exerted by the population on the
Figure 101: Percentage of Illiterate Population
environment and its natural resources.
Men
Women
81.6
72.8
63.1
52.2
46.8 42.3 38.1
74.0 65.9 57.4 48.0 43.5 39.8 36.3
1970 1980 1990 2000 2005 2010 2015
Years
Source: http://websie.eclac.cl/anuario_estadistico/anuario_2008/esp/index.asp
Literacy is essential to a development process.
In fact, reducing illiteracy (to less than 40% in
2015) could be a major tool in the integration
and use of new vital technologies to the country’s
development.
In conclusion, through such scenarios, we
have tried to show what the future could hold
for environmental management in Haiti. The
first one represents the worst case, marked by
poor territorial management and should be
rejected by governments or decision-makers.
The second shows that initiatives could be put in
place but with mixed results. To be effective, the
government would have to set up better control
mechanisms susceptible to have an effect on the
environmental main driving forces. Finally, the last
scenario is a reflection of a normalized situation,
the ideal one to the country’s development. It
shows that proper environmental management,
including a better administration of natural
resources, of demography and energy needs, is
key to sustainable development.