The Climate Change Directorate and the Integrated Coastal and Marine Zone Management Directorate (DGIZCM), with the support of the European Union, recently organized a hybrid workshop aimed at presenting the preliminary results of the criteria taken into account for the assessment of climate risks, presenting the classification of the country's coastal systems, discussing case studies conducted at the level of the communal sections and identifying, with the support of coastal zone management stakeholders, the essential criteria for the implementation of appropriate management measures, as part of the development of the National Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plan of Haiti.

The workshop was opened by Jacques Reymé, Director of the DGIZCM, who stressed the crucial importance of this initiative in the context of an updated assessment of climate risks in Haiti, emphasizing that the country's coastal areas are particularly vulnerable to climate hazards and that concerted action is essential for their preservation and sustainable development.

The project’s lead consultant, Bruno Colavito, explained that the Haitian coastal system is structured into three broad categories:

1 - Areas where land and sea interact, encompassing diverse coastal ecosystems;

2 - Areas sensitive to climate change, particularly prone to erosion, flooding and rising sea levels;

3 - Areas with strong socio-economic dynamics, including coastal infrastructure, community livelihoods, agriculture and housing.

He also highlighted that Haitian coastal areas, although exposed to multiple vulnerabilities, have significant potential for economic development.

In his assessment of climate risks in coastal areas, Colavito highlighted four key factors to consider for a hierarchical classification of risks :

1 - The morphology of the coasts and their exposure to natural phenomena are determining elements in the analysis of vulnerabilities;

2 - The distribution of population density in coastal areas is also a factor to consider;

3 - The state of conservation of threatened ecosystems;

4 - The level of vulnerability of the areas studied and their recovery potential are essential indicators for defining appropriate strategies.

Faced with these challenges, the establishment of an early warning system, the development of appropriate evacuation plans and the strengthening of coastal infrastructure are among the priority management measures identified as part of this work. This workshop marked an important step towards the development of a National Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plan, a strategic tool aimed at anticipating climate risks and proposing sustainable solutions for Haiti's coastal communities.

HL/ HaitiLibre