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Site description (2007 baseline):
Site location and context
The Grand Etang Forest Reserve is located in the northern mountains in the center of Grenada and covers 573 ha of forest. Mt. St. Catherines extends from the north-west to the south-east and encompasses mountain ranges with elevations between 400 and 840 m. Like the Grand Etang Forest Reserve, cloud forest, montane and lower montane forests are represented. This IBA is located north of the Grand Etang Forest Reserve, and contains the northern portion of the central mountain range. Like Grand Etang, this site is characteristic of steep jagged slopes and rough topography. This site has been surveyed and proposed as a Forest Reserve (2002).
No avian research is known for this site. However, due to its proximity and similarity in altitude, vegetation and steep topography to Grand Etang, we are assuming that this site contains the same five restricted range species that are found in Grand Etang. No data is available population sizes of these A2 species in this IBA. Though this high altitude forest has only recently been proposed for protection (2002), its inaccessibility and limited use suggest it, along with Grand Etang, is the major representation of Grenada’s high altitude forests.
Non-bird biodiversity: No herptophaunal or reptilian research is known for this site. However, similar species to those found in Grand Etang may likely be present. These include Eleutherodactylus euphronides is endemic and Red-listed by IUCN. Anolis aeneus and A. richardii documented at this site and Grenada Bank endemics. E. euphronides is restricted to a range of 16 km2 of montane forest at elevations >300m, including within the Forest Reserve, and is among the most vulnerable frog in the West Indies.
The vegetation is characterized by rain forests, lower montane rain forests and elfin woodlands on the steeper slopes throughout the high region. At lower altitude, the trees are smaller and more thickly covered by epiphytes (ferns & mosses). There has been little research conducted in this site, though due to it proximity to the Grand Etang Forest Reserve, the similar altitude of its mountain ranges, and its inaccessibility (limiting invasion of exotics), we are assuming similar vegetation characteristics and possibly species to the neighbouring Grand Etang Reserve. In Grand Etang, endemic species of plants include the Grand Etang Fern (
Danaea sp.), the Cabbage Palm (
Oxeodoxa oleracea), (
Maythenus grenadensis),
Rhytidophyllum caribaeum, and
Lonchcarpus broadwayi. The management of this site is with the Forestry and National Parks Department.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Threats unknown. Possible agriculture, hunting, and tree cutting, though likely on a small scale due to its inaccessibility.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
No avian population research is currently under way for the restricted range species of this IBA. A study should be conducted to determine estimated population sizes.
This site has been proposed as a Forest Reserve (2002). This proposal has been submitted to Grenada’s Cabinet, but no formal declaration has been made.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Mount Saint Catherine (Grenada). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/mount-saint-catherine-iba-grenada on 25/12/2024.
