Each family can produce its own cooking fuel from its own waste in order to reduce the pressure on the remaining trees by reducing the demand for charcoal.
China, India, and other developing nations have succesfully demonstrated this technology. Lastly, the sludge, remaining after the decomposition of the waste, is nitrogen rich and and an excellent fertilizer.
These options alone will definitely increase the chance of having a well-kept and safer environment. Are we far, very far away of such an effort?
The organizations which promote the preservation of the environment have long warned the Haitian authorities on this alarming situation and wish that the government could eventually launch a hydrocarbons subvention's program for low-income households.
Some people also suggest that the Haitians living abroad could strongly support their relatives in Haiti by encouraging them to purchase gaz-stoves and propane gaz container from the money-transfer being provided all year long. It will cost approximately $350 US.- a year for each household to have their own devices.
Others think that we need to introduce biogas latrines, which use human, animal and garden waste, to produce fuel that can be used for both cooking and lighting purposes.
This widespread lack of restraint has a negative impact on the environment and the remaining eco-attractions in Haiti. Accordingly, this is a great concern for many environmentalists.
One of the organizations that promotes the preservation of the environment in the country FAN (Federation des Amis de la Nature) proposed the hydrocarbons' subvention to protect the environment from being deteriorated. Besides, that's what being done in the Dominican Republic, which has a well-kept and more protected environment. To achieve that level, the Dominican government has for decades taken charge of a subvention program that helps low-income households to buy gaz-stoves.
To the contrary nothing has been done in Haiti to adopt and make people fully respect the laws aiming at preserving the environment as well as to secure the protected areas.
The 25 lbs propane gaz container has risen to 400 gourdes in some of the metropolitan regions, thus increasing enormously more pressure toward deforestation in Haiti. This situation is a huge concern for environmentalists who claim that the environment has already been deteriorated.
Nowadays, one needs 450 gourdes (around $12.00 US.-) to buy a 25 lbs propane gaz container. Knowing that the latter would last about 15 days depending on the type of cooking, many households would rather invest their money toward a big bag of charcoal, which is apparently more economic.
In fact, not everybody can afford to buy a propane gaz container. In addition, low-income households cannot afford to purchase gaz-stoves, which cost around $50.00.- US in Haiti.
According to recent studies, more than 80% of the population uses charcoal to cook, therefore encouraging charcoal vendors to cut down trees at a fast rate resultantly devastating for the environment. All year long, shiploads of charcoal, hard wood, boards arrive in Port-au-Prince without government's supervision.
