Grade 9 Science Journal (2022)

What is the main ecological issue?

The soil around rivers has eroded. The land near the rivers has become dry and can no longer support vegetation. In Haiti, the trees on the mountains are being chopped down and being used as fuel.  

What ecosystem is effected?

When it rains, the rain hits the bare mountain surface causing floods and mudslides to run down the side of the mountain. The mudslides and flooding running down the mountain takes the topsoil along with it making it flow into fresh bodied water and the ocean. This event is a problem because the soil that enters the fresh water can fill the dams and cause them to stop working. The soil entering the ocean can affect the fishery, which most of the village relies on. The loss of topsoil on the mountains can also affect the agriculture causing loss to Haiti’s economy. Once the soil on the mountains is gone no longer there it can never be returned back to the mountain.  

Who is affected by the ecological issue?

There are many people who are affected by the soil erosion in Haiti. The soil erosion goes into the water which affects the fish and other ocean animals and habits. If the fish are being affected that means the villages and the people in them are also being affected. There are more than 400 people in the Haiti villages who rely on fish for food, if the fish can’t survive because of the water conditions then the village people are also affected by the soil erosion.   

What are the short term and long term effects?

The possible short-term effects of soil erosion in Haiti are the soil won’t be able to store water and nutrients as well anymore and loss of newly planted crops. The main long-term effect of soil erosion is unfertile soil and agriculture losses. 

Sources:

Doucette, S. (2017, February 27). Deforestation and economic injustice in Haiti. The Borgen Project. Retrieved February 27, 2023, from https://borgenproject.org/deforestation-economic-injustice-haiti/#:~:text=Due%20to%20widespread%20deforestation%2C%20the,once%20abundant%20rainforests%20were%20depleted. 

Erosion. Better Universe and Citizens. (n.d.). Retrieved February 27, 2023, from https://www.betteruniverseandcitizens.org/erosion#:~:text=Once%20deposited%20in%20fresh%20water,in%20Haiti%20rely%20on%20fisheries. 

Government, Q. (2013, October 25). Impacts of erosion. Queensland Government. Retrieved February 27, 2023, from https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/land/management/soil/erosion/impacts#:~:text=reduced%20ability%20of%20the%20soil,loss%20of%20newly%20planted%20crops