Haiti: Geography and Environment

Haiti occupies the western third of the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean Sea, sharing its only land border with the Dominican Republic to the east. The country is dominated by rugged, mountainous terrain, with the name Haiti itself derived from a Taino word meaning "land of high mountains." Coastal plains and river valleys, including the fertile Artibonite Valley, provide the country's main agricultural lowlands.

Haiti has a tropical climate moderated by trade winds, with a wet season that generally runs from April through November and a drier stretch in winter months. The country's mountain ranges create distinct microclimates, and its position in the Caribbean hurricane belt exposes it to seasonal tropical storms. Northern and southern peninsulas differ noticeably in rainfall and vegetation from the central plateau region.

Decades of deforestation, driven largely by charcoal production and agricultural clearing, have left much of Haiti's original forest cover diminished, increasing the country's vulnerability to soil erosion, flooding, and landslides. Environmental priorities include reforestation efforts, watershed management, and disaster resilience planning given the country's exposure to hurricanes and earthquakes. International and local conservation programs continue to work on rebuilding tree cover and protecting remaining natural areas such as La Visite and Macaya National Parks.