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Site description (2007 baseline)
Lac Azuéi, also called Etang saumâtre (Brackish Pond) is the largest water body in Haiti (113 km2 30 meter deep). Located at between N18°29 - 18° 38 and W71°52 - 72°04 (Edouarzin, 2004), it lies west of the Cul-de-Sac plain near the Haitan-Dominican border, in the Neiba-Cul-de-Sac depression. It separates the north and south paleoisland and is an important part of the Lago Enriquillo - Trou Caiman wetland/ecoregion of outstanding biological value. It is exploited by more than 300 fishermen, by hunters for migratory ducks and flamingos (for trophies). Very close to the transnational road in the Malpasse area, the lake is unfortunately polluted. It is used as a solid waste area. At the immigration/emigration post in Malpasse, numerous male travelers use it as a rest area at the immigration. Population around the lake consists of permanent dwellers and travelers. Resident population is estimated at more than 60,000 from the localities of Ganthier, Thomazeau, Fond Parizien and Malpasse living of agriculture in a subtropical dry zone irrigated by the rivers that drains in the lake (Riviere Blanche and Thomazeau). Its proximity to Port-au-Prince and to the Dominican Republic is an opportunity to develop an ecotourism program as proposed by the Ministry of Environment and the FONDTAH (Fondation pour le Developpement du Tourisme Alternatif en Haiti) during the first binational fair in Fonds Parisien (20 novembre au 5 decembre 2004).

Key biodiversity
This area is important for flamingo migration and Caribbean Coots. Although West Indian Whistling Duck is reported, its presence needs to be confirmed with recent inventories. Most recent reports were only done in June 2003. They report 80 to 100 flamingos and 250 to 300 Caribbean Coots.

Non-bird biodiversity: The waters of the lake include 9 species of fish (5 endemics, Tilapia and Carps introduced) and American Crocodiles and an endemic turtle that usually hides in the mangrove as well as other crustaceous not identified yet.

Acknowledgements
Florence Sergile. Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation. University of Florida

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: Lac Azuéi (Haiti). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/lac-azuéi-iba-haiti on 10/01/2025.