Dynamique paysagère du Parc National Naturel de la Forêt des Pins en Haïti (1973- 2018)

Abstract

In Haiti, forest cover is in constant decline and does not exceed 3.5% of the national territory. Parks have been created to preserve the rare forests, including Unit 2 of the Pine Forest National Natural Park (PNN-FP2). However, the meager forest resources of this park are subject to various anthropogenic pressures (agriculture, timber exploitation, urbanization, etc.) leading to the decline of their area in the landscape. This study evaluated the spatio-temporal dynamics of the anthropization of forest ecosystems in PNN-FP2 from four Landsat images dating from 1973, 1986, 1999 and 2018. The cartographic approach combined with the analysis tools of landscape ecology revealed that the natural forest cover has experienced, in 45 years (from 1973 to 2018), a regressive dynamic materialized by a loss of 59.63% of its coverage to the benefit of anthropogenic classes (Fields and fallows, Degraded vegetation and Bare land) The regression of forest cover is underpinned by the dissection and fragmentation of its spots as opposed to the creation of the anthropogenic class spots. Our results justify the urgent need to develop an integrated, adequate and participatory management policy in order to sustainably preserve the forests of PNN-FP2.

Keywords

• deforestation
• landscape dynamics
• landscape ecology
• haiti
• pine forest
• remote sensing
• gis