In August
2019 I was part of a biological assessment team that surveyed the Haut du Cap
River in Cap Haitian, Haiti’s second largest city. Don and I surveyed the
aquatic environment of the river, surrounding wetlands, and tributaries, with a
botanist and two ornithologists. The river empties into the bay in Cap Haitian where
it historically was an estuary. However, people have cut down the mangroves in
and along the estuary and have moved in. Every year their homes flood. The area
is full of trash and fecal bacteria. People say they don’t see the quantity and
sizes of fish they used to see here. Protecting the river and its mangroves
would have protected the city from flooding and provided more fish for food. We
hope that this survey can increase awareness of the importance of protecting
natural areas in Haiti. |
| The old colonial bridge over the Haut du Cap. |
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| Houses along the river. |
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| Walkway to the boat taxi. |
