ibclogo XVI International Botanical Congess


Abstract Number: 2392
Poster No. = 1317


THE MANGROVES OF THE NORTH COAST OF HAITI : AN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT


M. Aubé , L. Caron, N. Lang, K. Goïta, Université de Moncton, Canada


The study of five mangroves was undertaken during the summer of 1998 on the north coast of Haiti. For all the sites, interviews with villagers regarding their use of the mangroves for wood extraction and fishing were conducted and the temporal changes in area, between 1978 and 1989, were estimated by photo-interpretation. The areas were reduced by an average of 43 %. Two of the sites were characterized by means of a vegetation survey and water and soil analysis. Their estimated tree density and mean maximum height were : 1) 58 750 st/ha and 2.08 m, 2) 114 250 st/ha and 2.16 m. All the assessed mangroves are intensively harvested for charcoal and fuel wood. This extraction seems to be the main human disturbance, resulting in changes in forest structure, although heavy fishing and conversion to residential sites constitute disturbances in some mangroves.


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