Earthquake Could Affect Conservation Efforts in Haiti

Busloads of people leave Port-au-Prince after the powerful earthquake left the city virtually inoperable. (UN Photo/Marco Dormino)

With the supply of food, water, and shelter disrupted by the earthquake, more Haitians are expected to rely on natural resources to survive, putting additional stress on an already fragile environment, experts say. Haiti once had one of the most diverse floras of the West Indies, but now less than 3 percent of the country’s native vegetation remains. Some of the last remaining protected areas, including La Visite National Park located near Port-au-Prince and the forested area of Massif de la Selle, could succumb to the immediate needs of Haiti’s quake survivors as they search for firewood for cooking and other basic essentials.

Recognizing the relationship between sustainable development and healthy communities, MacArthur has had a long commitment to preserving the biodiversity in Haiti as part of its broader efforts across the Caribbean. This includes support for the Environmental Law Institute, which along with its Haitian partner Konbit Pou Ayiti, is now working to assess the impact of the earthquake on Haiti’s natural resources. MacArthur also funds the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, which — with its partners in Haiti and the Dominican Republic — will conduct biological inventories of La Visite Park to aid in its long-term management. MacArthur’s commitments in Haiti are part of its strategy to help conserve large land and sea masses in the Caribbean and to increase the capacity of local organizations to provide for the long-term stewardship of their natural resources.

MacArthur’s conservation grantmaking in the Caribbean »

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Citizen Media Spread News of Quake

In the wake of the massive Haitian earthquake, the worldwide blogging network Global Voices is helping to provide information about events in the country as traditional communications and media networks have been badly affected by the earthquake. The global network, which supports the efforts of more than 200 bloggers around the world, has launched a special page of coverage about the devastation in Haiti, including tweets and blogs from ordinary citizens. The page includes links to a list of Twitter users posting from inside Haiti; Ushahidi's crowdsourcing map, which allows people to track information in real time; coverage by the nation’s mainstream media; and articles about the impact of citizen media on relief efforts. Visit Global Voices for more information »

Helping Local Broadcasters Get Back on the Air

International media development organization Internews is helping to get Haitian radio back on the air and is providing emergency technical equipment to broadcast critical information, such as where to go for food, water and shelter, to survivors of the earthquake. Designed to help provide trusted news in crisis situations, Internews receives support from MacArthur for quick reaction to humanitarian disasters, such as the one in Haiti. “Local media reporting for their local audiences are the best conduits for information in times like these,” said Internews's chief operating officer, Jeanne Bourgault in an interview in the Columbia Journalism Review. “They know their audiences, their needs, their concerns, and of course they can reach them in their own language.”

MacArthur’s media grantmaking »

Child rests in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, after receiving care for her injuries. (UN Photo/Marco Dormino)

Providing Emergency Medical Care

Founded by MacArthur Fellow Dr. Paul Farmer, Partners in Health is providing emergency medical care for thousands of people injured in the earthquake. The organization has been operating in Haiti for more than 20 years as part of its mission to bring modern medical care to poor communities in nine countries.