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Site description (2007 baseline):

Aux Cornichons (629 ha) is situated on the Massif de la Selle, West of Seguin on State land. It consists of a slope bordered north by Morne Nacel and Roche Plate, east by Bois Pin Jean Noel, South by Étang Pouillet and West by Ti Place (18°21'N and 72°16' W). Altitudes range from 1000 to 1870 m. Population around Aux Cornichons is made of the former workforce brought in La Scierie area when the pine forest was under national exploitation during the mid 1950's.

It one of the most diverse IBA within the National Park La Visite. Eighteen endemic species are known in this IBA, among them the Endangered La Selle Trush, the Vulnerable Hispaniolan Parakeet, the near threatened Plain Pigeon, Hispaniolan Trogon and the vulnerable Chat Tanager. It is an important habitat for a number of endemics such as the Hispaniolan Trogon and waterbirds such as the Limpkin. Last inventory of January-February 2005, included misnetting, sight counting and banding from 5:00 am to 7pm. This area is of special concern since it is consider a population sink. Due to the fact that this area was never managed some species may have already been extirpated such as Hispaniolan Parrots and White-Winged Warblers

Non-bird biodiversity: This area is habitat for Plagiodontia aedium. Endemic species threatened are: Hypericum millefolium, Miconia rigidissima, Gesneria hypoclada, Siphocamylus caudatus, Ilex blancheana (discovered in 1984) and many of the orchids and epiphytes.

Aux Cornichons consists on wet mountain hardwood forest on karst. Vegetation includes tree ferns, orchids and bromeliads. Dominant tree species are: Didymopanax tremulum, Ocotea acarina, Ocotea wrighii, Persea anomala and Myrsine coriacea . Other plants include Senecio bucchii, and Senecio picardae . Aux Cornichons is probably the most endangered remnant forest of Haiti. Much of the land although protected by decree is used by poor farmers to produce vegetables and herbs. As a matter of fact, parsley and wild carrot (Queen Ann's lace) are becoming invasive species there. Orchids, ferns, bromeliads and other potentially ornamental species are extracted to be sold in Pétion-Ville and Port-au-Prince (18 to 22 km north).

Absence of conservation program, Habitat destruction, Introduced animals, Fuelwood extraction, Endemic species extraction, Demography, Land tenure, Introduction of exotic species,Erosion, Tourism, Conversion to agriculture and Hunting.

Darlington Wetmore and Swales James Bond David Wingate - Black-Capped Petrel Charles Woods et al 1975 to 1995. University of Vermont, University of Florida William Oliver - Jersey Wildlife Trust Jose Ottenwalder Bird and endemic mammals, protected areas, University of Florida Heather McPerson - Bird - University of Florida Katherine Graham - Eckerd University, University of Florida Florence Sergile - Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development, Haiti and University of Florida Louis Buteau - Ministry of Environment - director of Appui Technique à la Protection des Parks et Forets project Fabienne Taylor - 1996 - Woldbank Chris Rimmer et al. - 2005 - Vermont Institute of Natural Sciences Eladio Fernandez - Wintrop Attie - Fondation Seguin - 1985 to present Larry Harris - University of Florida. 1985 Leonce Bonnefil - University of Puerto-Rico Liliana Davalos et al. 2001?

Aux Cornichons is located inside Parc National La Visite (3000 ha), in the locality of Bérac to Ti Place, officially declared under protection in 1983. It had been identify in Woods and Harris (1985) as an important area to develop a core zone because of endemicity and water catchment capacity.

Compiler:Florence Sergile, Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Aux Cornichons (Haiti). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/aux-cornichons-iba-haiti on 23/12/2024.