International Water And Forestry Day

Haiti - Environment : International Water Day and Forestry
(Haiti Libre) - 22/03/2015 13:51:43

On the occasion of the International Day of Forests and World Water Day on 21 and 22 March, the Government Youth of Haiti (GJH) celebrates these days that are designed to raise public awareness and increase overall awareness of the importance of water, forests and trees outside forests.

The GJH emphasizes that in Haiti "The already precarious livelihoods still likely to worsen because of the traditional lifestyle and climate change. Haiti is highly vulnerable to droughts and floods due to environmental degradation. Recall that the forest coverage rate in Haiti is now less than 2% against 47% in the Dominican Republic, all types combined (mangroves, dry forests, forest reserves, national parks). 30 million trees are cut down annually to cover 70% of the energy needs of Haitians," adding "The consequences of this massive deforestation are widely perceived on climate change, coastal erosion, groundwater and the country's surface water and reminds the decision-makers "the need to have an appropriate public policy, given the crucial question of the preservation and restoration of forests, as well as water protection and their wise use." It also recalls that the sustainable development perspective calls for environmentally friendly energy and biodiversity, as well as water services and sanitation more energy efficient. "Sustainable water management will have positive effects on other sectors, such as agriculture, biodiversity, risk management, the city [...]"

The Government Youth of Haiti said he was "mobilized to promote access to water and sustainable sanitation for all, increasing the population awareness about the strategic importance of water for socio-economic development of our country [...]"

Moreover, this Sunday, World Water Day, the engineer Benito Dumay, Director General of the National Directorate of Water Supply and Sanitation (DINEPA) delivered a message to the actors concerned and population and announced the different activities planned to commemorate the World Water day.