GEO Haiti 2010

State of the Environment Report 2010
3.1.3 Fires and Forest Fires.......................................................................................................................................... 104
3.1.4 Demand of Wood in the Construction Sector................................................................................... 104
3.2 IMPACTS................................................................................................................................................................................. 104
3.2.1 Weak Production Capacity............................................................................................................................. 104
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4. BIODIVERSITY............................................................................................................................................................................... 105
4.1 The ECO-REGIONS OF HAITI...................................................................................................................................... 106
4.1.1 Rainforests................................................................................................................................................................ 106
4.1.2 Dry Forests ............................................................................................................................................................... 106
4.1.3 Pine Forests.............................................................................................................................................................. 106
4.1.4 Wetlands.................................................................................................................................................................... 107
4.1.5 Marine Eco-regions............................................................................................................................................. 108
4.2 VERY HIGH LEVELS OF SPECIFIC DIVERSITY...................................................................................................... 108
4.2.1 Flora.............................................................................................................................................................................. 108
4.2.2 Fauna ........................................................................................................................................................................... 108
4.3 UNPRECEDENTED LOSSES.......................................................................................................................................... 110
5. SOILS................................................................................................................................................................................................. 110
5.1 OVERALL SITUATION AND MAIN CHARACTERISTICS.................................................................................. 110
5.2 QUESTIONABLE MANAGEMENT OF AGRO-ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS................................................. 112
5.2.1 Destruction of Plant Cover............................................................................................................................. 112
5.2.2 Inadequate Farming Techniques................................................................................................................ 113
5.3 SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS .................................................................................................................................................. 113
5.3.1 Soil Deterioration................................................................................................................................................. 113
5.3.2 Impact on Agricultural Production........................................................................................................... 114
5.3.3 Rural Exodus............................................................................................................................................................ 114
5.3.4 Poor Infrastructure............................................................................................................................................... 115
5.3.5 Affected Aquatic Ecosystems....................................................................................................................... 115
6. MINING AND QUARRYING................................................................................................................................................... 115
6.1 MINING................................................................................................................................................................................... 115
6.1.1 Type and Geographical Location of Mining Resources in Haiti.............................................. 116
6.1.2 Status of Resources............................................................................................................................................. 117
6.2 QUARRIES.............................................................................................................................................................................. 117
6.2.1 Types and Location of Quarries................................................................................................................... 118
6.2.2 Pressure from the Construction Industry.............................................................................................. 118
6.2.3 Geological Instability ......................................................................................................................................... 118
6.2.4 Vegetation................................................................................................................................................................ 119
6.3 SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES.......................................................................................................................................... 119
6.3.1 Destabilization of the Coastal Ecosystem............................................................................................. 119
6.3.2 Falling Rocks and Landslides......................................................................................................................... 119
6.3.3 Erosion........................................................................................................................................................................ 119