*4.3. Proposals and Perspectives*

### 4.3.1. For the Government and Planners

The current spatial challenge of peri-urbanization in Port-au-Prince consists of adapting or readapting human settlements in such a way as to respond sustainably to the socio-spatial needs of city dwellers and thus to reduce environmental degradation as much as possible. It thus requires efficient planning and settlement policies coupled with a better understanding of the spatial and temporal evolution of the (peri-)urban areas of the Port-au-Prince agglomeration provided by this study. Our results deliver a basis for promoting better planning and efficient spatial organization of the (peri-)urban areas of the Port-au-Prince agglomeration aiming at sustainable development. Moreover, it would be important to anticipate peri-urbanization in currently rural areas that are destined to become potential peri-urban areas within the framework of a territorial development plan, in order to ensure the food security of the population. Indeed, agricultural land continues to be invaded by housing, according to our results. Conversely, for the preexisting urbanized spaces, there is an urgen<sup>t</sup> need to reverse the current socio-spatial imbalance from the perspective of establishing dynamic balances of the mid-place, especially concerning vegetation [57]. Finally, it would be necessary to address the land issue, corruption and also the establishment and enforcement of legal frameworks appropriate to urbanization and the implementation of peri-urban agriculture in the design of a development plan.

It is necessary to delay the growth rate of the Port-au-Prince agglomeration and to reduce the demographic and economic gap between it and other chief towns of the departments and districts of Haiti. This implies the elaboration and application of a true spatially-balanced growth strategy and to work towards decentralization, economic and political deconcentration through the development of different departmental cities.

### 4.3.2. For Scientific Research Institutions

This study has rendered it possible to characterize (peri-)urban growth in the Port-au-Prince agglomeration and to evaluate its consequences along the urbanization gradient. However, there remain many aspects to be investigated in order to identify a sustainable solution that will enable reconciliation of the conservation of biodiversity and the satisfaction of the spatial needs of an ever-growing population. In this sense, it is up to scientific research institutions to contribute, among other things, to the evaluation of the impact of the degree of urbanization on the ecosystem services mainly provided by green spaces in the Port-au-Prince agglomeration; to develop indicators for monitoring the health of (semi-)natural ecosystems; to integrate the notion of ecosystem services in the planning of territorial development; and to provide scientific assistance to the conservation and development of green spaces.
