Abstract
Recent studies have used high resolution imagery to estimate tree cover and changes in natural forest cover in Haiti. However, there is still no rigorous quantification of tree cover change accounting for planted or managed trees, which are very important in Haiti’s farming systems. We estimated net tree cover change, gross loss, and gross gain in Haiti between 2002 and 2010 from a stratified random sample of 400 pixels with a systematic sub-sample of 25 points. Using 30 cm and 1 m resolution images, we classified land cover at each point, with any point touching a woody plant higher than 5 m classified as tree crown. We found a net increase in tree crown cover equivalent to 5.0 ± 2.3% (95% confidence interval) of Haiti’s land area. Gross gains and losses amounted to 9.0 ± 2.1% and 4.0 ± 1.3% of the territory, respectively. These results challenge, for the first time with empirical evidence, the predominant narrative that portrays Haiti as experiencing ongoing forest or tree cover loss. The net gain in tree cover quantified here represents a 35% increase from 2002 to 2010. Further research is needed to determine the drivers of this substantial net gain in tree cover at the national scale.
Highlights
IntroductionHaiti had 10 million inhabitants in 2011, a demographic density of
Haiti had 10 million inhabitants in 2011, a demographic density of360 inhabitants/km2, similar to the density of India and Japan
[41] Global Forest Cover Change product (GFCC) to define forest cover change strata used in the sampling design
Summary
Haiti had 10 million inhabitants in 2011, a demographic density of. 360 inhabitants/km , similar to the density of India and Japan. Half of the population still lives in rural areas and depends on individual or family farming for subsistence. Of farms had a total area less than 2.5 ha [1]. On average, of 1.8 parcels, usually located several kilometers away from each other, one of which is the parcel of residence. The average size of a parcel was 0.54 ha. Trees are especially important in this context because, inter alia, they provide food, energy, or income for a large portion of the population; they affect soil moisture, nutrient content and erodibility, reduce vulnerability to weather-related disasters, and influence local and regional climate
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