Abandoned Haitians turn fruit trees into charcoal in wake of hurricane and violence
With large parts of the Caribbean country controlled by armed gangs, the state’s absence is enabling environmental destruction The post Abandoned Haitians turn fruit trees into charcoal in wake of hurricane and violence appeared first on Dialogue Earth .
Jean Noël, a 53-year-old banana and vegetable farmer in Fond-Cochon, Haiti, has adapted to Hurricane Melissa's devastation by turning fruit trees into charcoal. This is a common practice in the region, with Patrick Innocent, the Roseaux commune director, reporting a significant increase in tree felling for charcoal production following the hurricane.
Local authorities struggle to assist the affected population due to a lack of funding, leaving many residents to resort to environmentally damaging methods like illegal tree felling and slash-and-burn farming. Haiti has been grappling with a security and humanitarian crisis since 2018, exacerbated by gang violence, food insecurity, and the absence of basic services.
The country faces an environmental emergency due to overlapping ecological crises. The hurricane caused widespread damage, particularly in the Grand Sud region, where 43 people were killed, and 16,000 people were evacuated. Deforestation is a pressing issue, with thousands of hectares of forest lost annually. About 75% of Haitian households rely on wood and charcoal for energy, making it the second most valuable agricultural activity.
The state's inability to provide long-term support has pushed many farmers, like Noël, to resort to charcoal production, worsening deforestation and exacerbating the country's environmental challenges.
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