Dominican Republic and Haiti: Country Studies

Dominican Republic and Haiti: Country Studies
In general, the mangroves are a critical habitat for threatened
or endangered animal species, including the American
crocodile, green sea turtle, hawksbill turtle, loggerhead turtle,
American flamingo, roseate spoonbill, reddish egret, West
Indian tree duck, masked duck, white-crowned pigeon, Hispaniolan
trogon, peregrine falcon, and West Indian manatee. Critical
marine and coastal habitats deserving of special protection
include the following: Les Arcadins, a group of small islands
and reefs in the Baie de Port-au-Prince; the Baie de Baraderes
and the Cavernites archipelago, including 1,200 hectares of
mangroves; lie a Vache, an island south of Les Cayes with mangroves,
reefs, crocodiles, and numerous shorebirds; and the
small bays of Labadie and Cadrasses on Haiti's Atlantic coast in
the north.
An estimated 8,000 to 10,000 fishermen practice small-scale
traditional fishing using small boats. A fleet of some 3,000 sailboats
and rowboats operates within a radius of about five kilometers
from shore; there is widespread over-fishing in nearshore
areas and underuse of other resources at a greater distance
(see Agriculture, ch. 8). Most fishermen are oriented primarily
to consumption needs. The major species found in local
markets are snapper, spiny lobster, conch, shrimp, and parrot
fish. Haiti exports significant quantities of coral, sea turtles,
aquarium fish, and shells.
Biodiversity
Haiti's ecological diversity has created a rich and varied
flora. Some 5,000 species of plants have been identified,
including more than 3,000 woody plants, trees, and shrubs; 600
species of fern, and 160 orchids. Thirty-six percent of all plants
are endemic. Plant species have adapted to a broad diversity of
life zones, including dry desert and high mountain rainforest.
Selecting for species utility, adaptability, and tradition, peasant
farmers have retained a diverse range of tree and shrub species
within the densely occupied agricultural landscape.
Haiti also has a rich fauna, especially the more than 220 bird
species including seventy-five resident species and endemics
such as the La Selle thrush, Hispaniolan trogon, Hispaniolan
parrot and parakeet, chat tanager, palmchat, black-crowned
palm tanager, and the gray-crowned palm tanager—a species
unique to Haiti. The country is also home to significant numbers
of water birds, including American flamingos, frigate
birds, white-tailed tropicbirds, and the nearly extinct black-
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