Environmental Impacts on Lake Azuéï in Haiti Due to Degradation of Its Watershed
University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras Campus Natural Sciences Faculty Environmental Sciences Graduate Program
Environmental impacts on Lake Azuéï in Haiti due to degradation of its watershed
Jodany Fortuné
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- . Summary.Environmental impacts on Lake Azuéï in Haiti due to degradation of its watersheds I. Introduction 1.1. Goals and Objectives II. Study Site 2.1 Description 2.1.1 Geographical coordinates and Localization III. Methodology 3.1 Geology 3.2 Prevailing Winds 3.3 The rainfall in the study area 3.5 Hydrology 3.6 Surface Area and Lake Elevation Change 3.7 Major threats to management of freshwater ecosystems in Haiti a. Direct threats b. Indirect threats 3.8 Treats on Lake Azuei 3.9. Common Lake water Quality 3.9.1 Physical Parameters Water clarity or Transparency Dissolved Oxygen 3.9.2 Chemical Parameters a. Phosphorus b. Nitrogen Suspended solids Ions Alkalinity Conductivity 3.9.3 Biological Parameters a. Chlorophyll b. Fecal Coliform Bacteria IV. Results V. Conclusions and Recommendations: References
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1. Introduction
Haiti is one of the most biologically significant but also one of the most environmentally degraded countries in the West Indies (Sergile and Woods, 2001). Deforestation systematically practiced in Haiti has a long history. In 1492, with the arrival of Christopher Columbus, the Island was covered with luxuriant vegetation over 80%. Many researchers agree that deforestation began in the late seventeenth century by the French colonists who destroyed thousands of hectares of virgin forest to plant sugar cane, cotton and coffee (Michel, 2005). However, according to agro-economist and geographer Michel (2005), "The most serious interference with the balance of the ecosystem was observed under U.S. occupation from 1915 to 1934 by the policy of concentration of land in violation of their occupants that had to be expelled or converted to a simple agricultural salaried’’. Today, the Haitian environment is
Environmental impacts on Lake Azuéï in Haiti due to degradation of its watershed
Jodany Fortuné
Page
1
- . Summary.Environmental impacts on Lake Azuéï in Haiti due to degradation of its watersheds I. Introduction 1.1. Goals and Objectives II. Study Site 2.1 Description 2.1.1 Geographical coordinates and Localization III. Methodology 3.1 Geology 3.2 Prevailing Winds 3.3 The rainfall in the study area 3.5 Hydrology 3.6 Surface Area and Lake Elevation Change 3.7 Major threats to management of freshwater ecosystems in Haiti a. Direct threats b. Indirect threats 3.8 Treats on Lake Azuei 3.9. Common Lake water Quality 3.9.1 Physical Parameters Water clarity or Transparency Dissolved Oxygen 3.9.2 Chemical Parameters a. Phosphorus b. Nitrogen Suspended solids Ions Alkalinity Conductivity 3.9.3 Biological Parameters a. Chlorophyll b. Fecal Coliform Bacteria IV. Results V. Conclusions and Recommendations: References
Page
2
1. Introduction
Haiti is one of the most biologically significant but also one of the most environmentally degraded countries in the West Indies (Sergile and Woods, 2001). Deforestation systematically practiced in Haiti has a long history. In 1492, with the arrival of Christopher Columbus, the Island was covered with luxuriant vegetation over 80%. Many researchers agree that deforestation began in the late seventeenth century by the French colonists who destroyed thousands of hectares of virgin forest to plant sugar cane, cotton and coffee (Michel, 2005). However, according to agro-economist and geographer Michel (2005), "The most serious interference with the balance of the ecosystem was observed under U.S. occupation from 1915 to 1934 by the policy of concentration of land in violation of their occupants that had to be expelled or converted to a simple agricultural salaried’’. Today, the Haitian environment is
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