Deforestation - Haiti Observer Blog

There are many things and factors that contribute to the current condition in Cornillon, a small town in the Arrondissement of Croix-des-Bouquets. It is not a super rich town but its people still have a decent source of livelihood. To know more about the town in the Department of Ouest, here are some more information about it.

Situated in a mountainous region of the southern eastern part of the country, Cornillon has more than 48,900 inhabitants. The town comprises of five sections and witnesses tropical wet and dry weathers.

The town has experienced wide deforestation. This is because settlements were needed. Deforestation was also done in order to give way for more charcoal production. Such production is one of the main sources of income in the town because the demand for coal is high across the country. Because charcoal is the primary source of fuel in Haiti, charcoal product has become one of the highest income-generating livelihoods, especially in Cornillon. However, people do not only rely on charcoal production to make ends meet. They also produce fruits and coffee. Without agricultural and charcoal productions, residents will probably find it more difficult to get by as the town is not as wealthy as the other cities in the country.

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Clearing land for farming remains the main cause of deforestation in Haiti, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.

In Haiti, the loss of tree cover - and the soil erosion that results - has made it much harder for farmers to grow food, worsening the hunger and poverty already gripping the country.

Ninety-eight percent of Haiti forests have been cut down, largely to make charcoal - the main cooking fuel in Haiti - where alternatives are unavailable or not affordable. The same forces drive deforestation in many other developing countries.

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