ReefFix: An Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) Ecosystem Services Valuation and Capacity Building Project for the Caribbean

Toward the Development of Haiti's System of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) - An Ecosystem Services Assessment for the Creation of Haiti's System of MPAs

APH

This ReefFix project, supported by the governments of Mexico and Monaco through the Organization of American States (OAS), is an Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) Coral Reef and Mangrove Restoration and Watershed Management Demonstration program that works with Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to restore and effectively manage coastal resources through the use and development of cost-effective techniques and economic validation of ecosystems (OAS/Department of Sustainable Development). This case study is a continuation, expansion, and re-assessment of coastal and marine ecosystem services values for Haiti from an initial study undertaken by FoProBiM for ReefFix in the Caracol bay area in 2009 (funded by the government of Chile).

Several areas of Haiti have been identified as areas of interest for the development of Coastal and Marine Protected Areas. This study is based on the examination of the locations for Haiti’s first network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) first proposed by the Fondation pour la Protection de la Biodiversité Marine (FoProBiM, 2000) and includes the sites of: Caracol/Ft. Liberté/Lagons aux Boeufs (Trois Baies), Baie de l’Acul, Gonaïves/Grand Saline, Arcadins, La Gonâve Nord, La Gonâve Sud, Banc des Rochelois, Baradères/Cayemites, and Ile-à-Vaches/Aquin.

With all data analyzed, the Caracol Bay area should be considered as the most important site in Haiti in terms of the need for protection and the development of a sustainable management plan.

On August 7, 2013, just prior to the release of this report, the Haitian government through a decision of its Council of Ministers designated an expanded delimitation of the Ile-à-Vaches site in this study as a mixed marine/terrestrial protected area.

Case Study Results
Document Title
Final Report Document