This study examines the complex factors and causes of Haiti’s ecological demise, identifying the tipping points which led to its early environmental challenges, its eventual isolation, economic stagnation and decline within the exclusionary global economic system of mercantilism, all resulting in, and reinforced by, a complex western ideological bias defined as ‘Haitiism’. The literature review examines the historical trends of colonized and independent Haiti under the notional concepts of victim blaming theory, political ecology, ecological economics, and cumulative causation theory. These notions are applied as lenses of inquiry firstly to absolve Haiti of full blame for its environmental distress, and to identify and provide clarification on the adverse historical events that lead to its current state of poverty. In responding to ecological pressures, this research applies an intervention strategy that (1) examines the practicability of rebuilding soil horizons on Haiti’s eroded parent soils, using blends of biochar and compost to create Anthroposols by the process of restorative anthropedogenesis; (2) develop a closed loop cycle between pyrogenic carbon and farm soils, and; (3) investigate how an integrated food- energy system could impact Haiti’s biogeochemical cycles to restore ecological interactions and ecosystem services. The mixed methods research and analysis applied in this inquiry incorporates both quantitative and qualitative measures of assessment to improve upon the understanding of the relationship between Haiti’s soil biogeochemistry and the resuscitation of ecosystems services which are pivotal for livelihoods development at the household level.
Open Source Archives
We strive to facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration and the implementation of progressive and participatory research methods, with the goal of generating tangible, durable changes in the way research about Haiti is conceptualized, implemented and applied.
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Research Hub & Open Source Archives
EKO HAITI Research Hub is a research and knowledge mobilization platform focused on creative, collaborative and interdisciplinary research and associated research-based learning. We aim to become the intellectual “home” for research about Haiti by creating and providing open access to the largest crowdsourced research archive dedicated to Haiti, by fostering cross-disciplinary research and innovation, and by providing support for progressive research in the form of contextual expertise and training.
“The trees fall from time to time, but the voice of the forest never loses its power. Life begins.”
Jacques Alexis, Les Arbres Musiciens (Paris, 1957)
ORAL HISTORIES
Oral histories are a powerful tool in developing historical understanding
Oral history offers an alternative to conventional history, filling gaps in traditional research with personal accounts of historically significant events or simply life in a specific place and time. Oral histories do more than provide charming details to dry historical accounts. In fact, oral histories help others recapture lived experiences that are not written down in traditional sources.
> Transcripts archive
" Bwa pi wo di li wè lwen, men grenn pwomennen di li wè pi lwen pase l "
The tallest tree says that it sees far, but the seed that travels says that it sees even further.
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As an independent institute, we rely on crowdsourcing and donations to continue expanding the depth and scope of our archives. Your contribution enable us to provide open access to a vast collection of ethnographic and research material which in turn aims at fostering further research and contribute to a better understanding of the country.
