Border provinces are losing forestry coverage

[Dolores]

A government report reveals that border provinces are rapidly losing their forest coverage. Diario Libre headlines that six border provinces have lost more than 100 km2 of forestry coverage in the past 22 years. The Border Monitor revealed that Pedernales, the most southern border province, and Montecristi, the most northern border province are the most affected.

According to the Border Monitor, developed by the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Development, in 2023 the forest coverage of the Dominican Republic was 48.9%, down six points from 2000 when it reportedly was at 54.9%.

The six provinces on the border with Haiti that have lost the most forestry coverage are Pedernales (197.4), Montecristi (178.2), Independencia (145.5), Dajabón (131.8), Santiago Rodríguez (124.4) and Elías Piña (119.4).

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[MoJoInDR]

That does not look good.

 

[NanSanPedro]

That does not look good.

It reminds me of the hills/mountains that border Gonaives to the west. Very stark. OTOH, when I went to the southern mountians in 2019, it was very lucious.

 

[MoJoInDR]

It reminds me of the hills/mountains that border Gonaives to the west. Very stark. OTOH, when I went to the southern mountians in 2019, it was very lucious.

What should be worrying is not just the lack of vegetation, but the soil denudation (which includes erosion) that follows, as this makes the situation even worse. Once this sets in it becomes more difficult to restore the vegetation. It can be done, but it can take years.

 

[El Hijo de Manolo]

What should be worrying is not just the lack of vegetation, but the soil denudation (which includes erosion) that follows, as this makes the situation even worse. Once this sets in it becomes more difficult to restore the vegetation. It can be done, but it can take years.

This is interesting. This is what the "Internet" has to say on this:

"The concern over soil denudation, which includes erosion, extends beyond just the lack of vegetation. This process significantly worsens the environmental situation, as it makes restoring vegetation much harder. Once soil erosion sets in, it becomes increasingly difficult to reverse, requiring years to restore the vegetation fully."

I just can't help to notice the similarities. In fact, it basically says the exact same thing as your post!

 

[NanSanPedro]

What should be worrying is not just the lack of vegetation, but the soil denudation (which includes erosion) that follows, as this makes the situation even worse. Once this sets in it becomes more difficult to restore the vegetation. It can be done, but it can take years.

Exactly. I saw the effects of this in Gonaives first hand.

 

[bob saunders]

This is interesting. This is what the "Internet" has to say on this:

"The concern over soil denudation, which includes erosion, extends beyond just the lack of vegetation. This process significantly worsens the environmental situation, as it makes restoring vegetation much harder. Once soil erosion sets in, it becomes increasingly difficult to reverse, requiring years to restore the vegetation fully."

I just can't help to notice the similarities. In fact, it basically says the exact same thing as your post!

What's your point?

 

[NALs]

That does not look good.

You are aware that photo isn’t of the DR, but of Haiti, right?

 

[NALs]

Approximate place of the photo.

 

[CristoRey]

Most Haitians are afraid to cook with gas.
I often wonder if the border patrol (during the last administration)
took bribes and allowed so much charcoal to be smuggled
back across the border to Haiti.

 

[MoJoInDR]

You are aware that photo isn’t of the DR, but of Haiti, right?

Try reading my comment again... Maybe you misunderstood my five-word sentence.

Then... Try reading — and understanding — the article.

 

[NALs]

Try reading my comment again... Maybe you misunderstood my five-word sentence.

Then... Try reading — and understanding — the article.

Forest cover is actually growing in only a few handful countries in the Western Hemisphere and the DR is one of them. So what exactly is there to understand? That “it isn’t good” to lose forest cover? Well, it isn’t. Places that are seeing a shrinkage should be worried for things like water supply in the near and medium future.

 

[bob saunders]

Forest cover is actually growing in only a few handful countries in the Western Hemisphere and the DR is one of them. So what exactly is there to understand? That “it isn’t good” to lose forest cover? Well, it isn’t. Places that are seeing a shrinkage should be worried for things like water supply in the near and medium future.

There is less forest coverage in six border provinces than 5 years ago. Perhaps overall there is more forest cover in the country as a whole but it is worrisome that six border provinces have less.

 

[JD Jones]

There is less forest coverage in six border provinces than 5 years ago. Perhaps overall there is more forest cover in the country as a whole but it is worrisome that six border provinces have less.

What they may be calling forest coverage is including all of the "Plant trees" campaigns that have been organized over the last few years.

 

[NALs]

There is less forest coverage in six border provinces than 5 years ago. Perhaps overall there is more forest cover in the country as a whole but it is worrisome that six border provinces have less.

That’s obvious, but like with population weight on a national level (I’ll be surprised if the population of all border provinces combined amount to 10% of the national population, there are towns with more people than provinces like Elías Piña to name one), landwise border provinces are a small part of the country. That’s not really something that will affect where the bulk of the country lives. A decrease of forest cover in provinces like La Vega, Azua or Santiago would be more worrisome since many of the major rivers are born in national parks covering part of those provinces and a few others. Most of the forest is also not in birder provinces.

 

[NALs]

What they may be calling forest coverage is including all of the "Plant trees" campaigns that have been organized over the last few years.

That’s how Puerto Rico became forested again after being the most deforested island in the Caribbean.

 

[bob saunders]

That’s obvious, but like with population weight on a national level (I’ll be surprised if the population of all border provinces combined amount to 10% of the national population, there are towns with more people than provinces like Elías Piña to name one), landwise border provinces are a small part of the country. That’s not really something that will affect where the bulk of the country lives. A decrease of forest cover in provinces like La Vega, Azua or Santiago would be more worrisome since many of the major rivers are born in national parks covering part of those provinces and a few others. Most of the forest is also not in birder provinces.

It is called creep. The area will get larger and large if not policed and taken care of.

 

[Notengo]

Looking at the border areas on google maps it is clear what happens when there is no protection. The creep from the Haitian side is often not limited by the (weak) border but rather a natural border like a river.

 

[MoJoInDR]

Forest cover is actually growing in only a few handful countries in the Western Hemisphere and the DR is one of them. So what exactly is there to understand? That “it isn’t good” to lose forest cover? Well, it isn’t. Places that are seeing a shrinkage should be worried for things like water supply in the near and medium future.

Sounds like you have it all figured out... Carry on.

 

[MoJoInDR]

It is called creep. The area will get larger and large if not policed and taken care of.

Some understand, others don't.