Why Does Deforestation Matter?

For years, severe environmental problems have been among the roots of Haiti’s social, economic and even political crises. Desertification has huge economic consequences – the World Bank estimates that at the global level, the annual income foregone in the areas affected by desertification amounts to US$ 42 billion each year, while the annual cost of fighting land degradation would cost only US$ 2.4 billion a year. In all, more than 110 countries have drylands that are potentially threatened by desertification. Africa, Asia and Latin America are the most threatened by desertification. Although better known for their rain forests, Latin America and the Caribbean are actually about one-quarter desert and drylands. Poverty and pressure on land resources are causing land degradation in many of these dry areas. 

So, the question becomes, “What can be done to reverse the negative consequences of desertification?” 

Restore and fertilize the land – This could be done by preparing compost that will become humus and will regenerate the soil with organic matter. Combat the effects of the wind by constructing barriers and stabilizing sand dunes with local plant species. 

Reforestation - Trees play several roles: they help fix the soil, act as wind breakers, enhance soil fertility, and help absorb water during heavy rainfall. Because the burning of land and forests increases dangerous greenhouse gases, planting new trees can help reduce the negative impacts of resulting climate change. 

Develop sustainable agricultural practices - Drylands are home to a large variety of species that can also become important commercial products: for example, they provide 1/3 of the plant-derived drugs in the United States. Agriculture biodiversity must be preserved. Land overexploitation shall be stopped by leaving the soil ‘breathe’ during a certain-time period, with no cultivation, nor livestock grazing. 

Developing traditional lifestyles changes - Traditional lifestyles as practiced in many arid zones offer examples of harmonious living with the environment. In the past, nomadism was particularly adapted to drylands conditions; moving from one waterhole to another, never staying on the same land; pastoral peoples didn’t exert much pressure on the environment. However, changing lifestyles and population growth are putting increasing pressure on scarce resources and vulnerable environments. 

Mandating environmental priority changes - Make the environment a national priority and link environmental rehabilitation and preservation measures to social and economic development strategies, such as the Poverty Reduction Strategies. 

Relieving pressure on forest resources - Encourage the use of subsidized wood fuel substitutes, taxing the sale and transport of charcoal and wood and investing returns in environmental rehabilitation programs. 

Investing more external aid in rural development – The main goal should be to stem the flow of migrants to urban slums and stepping up community-led environmental protection projects in those slums to expand access to clean water and basic sanitation. 

Strengthening institutions - The goal is for better manage the environment by establishing and empowering local governance structures. 

* Source: Dr. Vereda Johnson Williams, A Case Study of Desertification in Haiti, Journal of Sustainable Development Vol. 4, No. 3; June 2011