| FILE--An aerial view of eroded and deforested farmland and the
mountainside near Mirebalais, Haiti is seen in this July 24, 2002 photo. Haiti is the most
deforested country in the Caribbean. Wood and charcoal are principle energy sources for
households, bakeries, dry cleaning and other businesses, and with unemployment estimated
at 70%, trees are highly sought after commodities. With only 1/3 of its land arable and
much of the plains in the hands of the state, Haiti's peasants are driven into the
mountains. The erosion resulting from deforestation is estimated to cause the loss of
between 6,000 and 15,000 hectares per year. Meanwhile, the lack of government support for
small farmers, Haiti's agricultural production contracted by over 5% last year, according
to the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean. (AP Photo/ Daniel Morel) |
