Haiti – Dominican Republic - Disasters and Conflicts - UNEP

A member of the assessment team collecting data in the field.© UNEP• field observations throughout the border zoneon both sides of the border, with three missionswhich took place between May 2011 and April2012.• interviews with the local community membersengaged in various livelihoods (farming,fishing, re-forestation, commerce, charcoalmaking), interviews with community leadersand representatives from livelihood associationsand NGO’s active in the border zone, as wellas interviews with national government officialsfrom both Haiti and the Dominican Republic.• institutional knowledge from UN staff gainedover the course of several years working in Haiti.• findings from socio-economic case studiesfocusing on the Haitian side of the border zonein the Massacre watershed in the north andthe Pedernales watershed in the south. Thesestudies were conducted by the Earth Instituteof Columbia University together with the HaitianState University. 4• studying satellite images of the border zoneand comparing to field level observationsIn addition the assessment team used a sustainablelivelihoods framework to understand howlivelihoods in the border zone are coping andresponding to long-term degradation as well asshort-term shocks and stresses. 5This framework is a useful analytical lens to understandvulnerabilities, livelihood assets, influencingfactors, strategies and outcomes that should betaken into account when trying to understand themain factors that affect people’s livelihoods. Theframework also helps in explaining the relationshipsbetween these various factors, as well as how amore sustainable use of natural resources shouldbe part of the solution when addressing the variouschallenges faced by livelihoods in the border zone.The framework was further used when developingthe recommendations that focus on livelihoodstrategies and ways to build resilience among14 Haiti – Dominican Republic: Environmental challenges in the border zone