Haiti shares a border with the Dominican Republic on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola.

?(a) The border between the two countries can be seen using satellite images because of the severe deforestation in Haiti. ?

(i) Provide one reason why deforestation commonly occurs in a less developed country such as Haiti. ?

(1 point for a correct reason why deforestation commonly occurs in a less developed country.)?

? Converting forests into agricultural land, ranchland?

? Using trees/charcoal for fuel or source of income?

? Protecting forests through regulations is less common than in developed countries?

? Harvesting timber for use as building materials?

? Using forested land for commercial purposes by corporations/industrialized countries?

? Clearing forested land to accommodate growing rural populations (e.g., roads, homes, ?schools)?

(ii) Describe one realistic strategy to reduce deforestation in a less developed country.?

(1 point for a correct description of a realistic strategy to reduce deforestation in a less developed?country.)?

? Enact/enforce laws or regulations that restrict cutting of trees?

? Encourage sustainable agriculture/forestry programs?

? Introduce more efficient cooking methods that reduce use of wood as a fuel source?

? Establish programs to promote alternate building materials that reduce the demand for ?wood?

? Develop economic programs to increase individual incomes/decrease reliance on forest ?conversion?

? Reduce population growth resulting in less demand for wood for fuel and income?

? Promote ecotourism to protect natural areas and to discourage tree harvesting

(b) Deforestation can affect water quality. Identify one change that can occur in the water quality of?streams within a watershed that has been deforested. Explain how deforestation can lead to this change.?

(2 points: 1 point for identifying a correct change in water quality and 1 point for correctly explaining the linkage to deforestation. The explanation point cannot be earned without correctly identifying a change in water quality.)

(c) Identify TWO environmental benefits, other than those related to water quality, of maintaining forest ecosystems. ?

(2 points: 1 point for each correct environmental benefit identified. Only the first two benefits can earn ?a point.)?

? Maintains habitat/biodiversity?

? Releases oxygen?

? Stores carbon?

? Slows climate change/global warming?

? Absorbs/reduces/filters air pollutants?

? Regulates local temperatures/maintains microclimates and regional climates?

? Reduces erosion, thus preserving soil?quality/quantity?

? Maintains nutrient cycles

The table below contains demographic data for Haiti in 1995 and 2015.

(d) Identify and discuss one factor in a less developed country that could contribute significantly to a change in life expectancy, similar to what occurred in Haiti from 1995 to 2015. ?

(2 points: 1 point for correctly identifying a factor that increases life expectancy and 1 point for discussing how that factor contributes significantly to this increase. The discussion point may be?earned without the identification point.)

(e) Identify and discuss one economic or cultural factor in a less developed country that could contribute significantly to a change in the fertility rate, similar to what occurred in Haiti from 1995 to 2015. ?

(2 points: 1 point for correctly identifying one economic or cultural factor that decreases fertility rate and 1 point for discussing how that factor contributes significantly to this decrease. The contribution point may not be earned without earning the factor point.)