Haiti’s economy focuses on the development of its natural products, such as cornfields and fruit trees, and relies heavily on the export revenues of these products. Therefore, it is safe to say, that Haiti’s economic activity is entirely dependent on the health and well-being of its natural resources, and that environmental degradation in the country slows or even prevents the growth of these sectors, and deters job creation and poverty eradication.
Furthermore, Haiti has been exceptionally vulnerable to environmental degradation, particularly due to overwhelming deforestation since the 1960s. In addition, the agriculture sector is in decline, forcing the country to import 50% of their needed commodities and forcing most farmers to rely on subsidies. Beyond the shattering effects of the 2010 earthquake, which had devastating and long-lasting impacts, Haiti has also been distressed by the severe droughts following El Nino since 2014.
Haiti has made various commitments to green policies and methods of intervention in the country’s economy, including by partnering with UNEP and participating in the Caribbean Green Economy Project, “Advancing Caribbean States’ Sustainable Development through Green Economy (ACSSD-GE)”. Haiti has identified several focus sectors within the agricultural industry: apiculture, castor oil, cashews, mangoes and cocoa.
