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 Rapid Assessment of the Economic Value of Ecosystem Services Provided by Mangroves and Coral Reefs and Steps Recommended for the Creation of a Marine Protected Area Caracol Bay, Haïti

Organization of American States

Inter-American Biodiversity Information Network (IABIN)

 

ReefFix: An ICZM Coral Reef Restoration, Watershed Management and Capacity Building Demonstration Project for the Caribbean

 

 

Map of Proposed MPA at Caracol Bay, Haiti

 

Many considerations must be addressed when deciding on the designation of a site or sites as Coastal and Marine Protected Areas (marine preserves/reserves or marine protected areas).  Among these are: (i) Where it should be located and why (e.g. beaches, biodiversity, tourism corals, or any combination of factors); (ii) Its size (iii) Its possible interlinking with other reserves (both terrestrial or marine)

 

Other aspects which must be taken into consideration include:

  • Public sector support

  • Private sector support

  • What type of enforcement regime will be implemented

  • What type of zoning will be implemented

  • Who will benefit

  • Who may loose

  • Sustainability (financial)

  • Stakeholder involvement

  • Mechanisms for mediating potential conflicts

  • Scientific

 

For the Caracol Bay area the most directly concerned fishing communities are :

 

  • Bord de Mer de Limonade

  • Montolon

  • Caracol

  • Jacquezy

  • Boue

  • Defraille

  • Cap Haitien

  • Phaëton

  • Ft. Liberté

 

The most directly implicated Government entities are:

  • Ministry of Environment

  • Ministry of Agriculture – Fisheries and Forest Services

  • Ministry of Planification and External Cooperation

  • Ministry of Justice – (regular police and coast guard)

  • Office of the Prime Minister

  • Government offices of the Department of the Northeast 

 

The most directly concerned private sector entities are: 

  • Association Hôtelier et Touristique d’Haïti

  • Association Hôtelier et Touristique d’Haïti – Nord

  • Individual hotels

  • Chambre de commerce – Nord

  • Concerned fisher’s associations

  • Environmental/Developmental NGOs working in the area

 

Recommended steps towards the creation of MPAs in Haiti:

 

1)   Determination of need (why)

2)   Consultations with public and private sector to determine the support level for the creation of a marine reserve

3)   Initial survey for the preliminary outline of the reserve

4)   Consultations with public and private sector to determine approval for outline

5)   Designation of site either through:

·        Presidential Decree (Arrêté), or

·        Parliamentary approved law (much more difficult and a much longer process)

6)   Establish internal zoning as needed according to a classification system (e.g. IUCN)

7)   Establish management regime and responsibilities

Economic Valuation of Ecosystem Services Results

The Ecosystem Value Transfer (EVT)/Benefit Transfer Method (BTM) was used to calculate the estimated value for ecosystem services. In this methodology values which have already been estimated for similar ecosystems are extrapolated to the study site.  For this activity, a value of US$ 20,000 ($/Ha/yr) rate for mangroves, and US$ 5,000 ($/Ha/yr) rate for coral reefs is used based on a conservative low end average from a high of US$ 35,000 ($/Ha/yr) for mangroves and US$ 10,000 ($/Ha/yr) estimated by UNEP.

 
Caracol's Mangroves Park, Haiti

Reports Available

 

Report 2009 Part 1                Report 2009 Part 2             

 

 

 

 

This page was last updated on Monday May 11, 2009.