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Site description (2007 baseline):

The Northern Range as its name suggests, runs along the northern edge of Trinidad. Geologically it represents an extension of the coastal cordillera of Venezuela’s Paria Peninsula. It reaches 925m at the highest point but the average elevation of the ridge is about 600m. The range is dissected by thirteen major valleys to the south each with access roads and settlements. Valley and foothills to the west are mainly residential while the valleys further east are largely agricultural areas. Extending from Port of Spain eastward, immediately south of the Northern Range is the major residential and commercial area of northern Trinidad. A coastal road runs along the north of the range for most of its length providing access to coastal villages and sandy beaches. The rivers are regularly used for recreation and a network of foot paths cross the forested areas which provide access to hunters. Due to the topography, the eastern end of the northern range experiences the highest rainfall in Trinidad in excess of 3800mm per annum and some of the least disturbed and most luxuriant forest. Six IBAs have been identified within the Northern Range which together comprises over 36000 ha of the eastern half of the Northern Range and all lands above 500m. The sub-divisions reflect different levels of state protection, private ownership and consequent settlements and forest degradation. TT 001a. The Matura National Park covers approximately 9000 ha at the eastern end of the Northern Range and includes the catchments area of three large rivers; the Salybia and Rio Seco rivers which drain to the south and Shark River and Grande Riviere draining to the north. Altitude ranges from sea level to 500m. Most of the land is state-owned but there are a few roads and agricultural activities within the park. Conservation agreements are to be developed with the owners of private lands within the park boundary. TT 001b. The Madamas river is a north flowing river at the eastern Northern Range. The catchment area is approximately 4700 ha and the altitude ranges from sea level to just over 600m. It is essentially unpopulated and there are no paved roads. Hunters and other visitors access to the area via foot paths or by boat. The land is predominantly state-owned. TT 001c. The Quare River is a south-flowing stream just east of the town of Valencia. Its catchment area is approximately 2200 ha. It is one of the primary sources of water in Trinidad and the river has been dammed to create the Hollis Reservoir. Altitude ranges from 100m to the highest peak in Trinidad, El Cerro Del Aripo at 925m. The land included in the IBA is state-owned and apart from the road to and buildings associated with the Hollis Reservoir, there is no habitation. TT 001d. Along the north coast, between the Matura National Park and the Madamas valley lies the village of Matelot. The Matelot river flows to the north and the catchment area is approximately 3700 ha most of which lies within the St. David Forest Reserve and is owned by the state. Altitude ranges from 100m to 600m. The forest and wildlife is similar to that of the adjacent Madamas catchment area but less pristine. TT 001e. On the southern slopes of the Northern Range, between the Matura National Park and the Quare River lies the catchment area for two major rivers the Oropuche and Matura. This area contains a higher proportion of privately-owned land and consequently more roads and habitation than the adjacent valleys. Nevertheless the population density is low and much of the forest is of high quality. The two catchment areas encompass approximately 12500 ha above the 100m contour. Altitude ranges from 100 m to 600m although most of the area lies below 300m. Roughly half of the area lies within the Matura Forest Reserve and its eastern and western extensions. TT 001f. The main ridge of the Northern Range constitutes the final section of the Northern Range selected as an IBA. For this purpose all additional lands above 500m are included and covers an additional 4300 ha most of which is state owned and forested.

The northern range hosts the only known population of the Trinidad Piping Guan, which is widespread throughout the eastern part of the range but with a population limited to an estimated 70-200 birds. The six IBAs of the Northern Range are all suitable habitat for the Trinidad Piping Guans. Recent sightings have been made at Grande Rivierre on the edge of the National Park, at Madamas and along the ridge leading to Morne Bleu (at 690m). There have been no recent records from the Quare, Matelot, Oropuche or Matura watersheds but it is highly likely that the species survives there. A number of species, which represent the Andean component of Trinidad’s avifauna are largely restricted to the Northern Range and are likely to occur at each of the IBAs identified, especially those with higher altitudes. These include Band-tailed Pigeon, Lined Quail-dove, Oilbird, Chestnut-collared Swift, Brown Violetear, Collared Trogon, Scaled Antpitta, Slaty-capped flycatcher, Olive-striped Flycatcher, Orange-billed Nightingale-thrush, Yellow-legged Thrush, Speckled Tanager, Blue-capped Tanager and Hepatic Tanager. The near- threatened Olive-sided Flycatcher also prefers the higher altitudes of the Northern Range.

Non-bird biodiversity: Golden Tree frog from Phylodytes auratus is endemic to the highest peaks of Trinidad’s Northern Range where it lives in close association with the Tank Bromilliad Glomerulopitcairnia erectifolia. Also thought to be endemic to the Northern Range is the Luminous lizard Proctoporus schrevi, the shake Leptophis stimsoni and an un-described snake Helminthophis sp. known only from a single specimen. The frogs Eleutherodactylus urichi and Mannophryne trinitatis, which are arguably endemic to Trinidad and Tobago are particularly abundant in the Northern Range. Of the 59 endemic plants recorded for Trinidad, 32 species have been collected within the Northern Range and many restricted to the highest altitudes.

The Northern Range is largely forested, especially above 240m. The forest is greatly influenced by rainfall and exposure. At the western end of the range rainfall is low, the dry season harsh, and deciduous forest predominates. The area identified as important bird areas however are restricted to the more elevated areas with higher rainfall and does not extend to the deciduous forest. Along the foothills of the Northern Range, up to about 240m, Evergreen Seasonal Forest of the Crappo-Wild Debasse type (Carapa guianensis – Licania biglandulosa) predominates. Evergreen seasonal forest is the most structured of the forest types in Trinidad with three canopy strata, a sub-canopy, shrub and ground layers. The canopy strata are generally poorly defined especially so in the lower slopes of the Northern Range where the ridge-top soils desiccate during dry weather. An emergent layer can exceed 35m and is dominated by Laurier Candle Aniba panurensis and A. trinitatis. Other abundant emergents include Crappo, Wild Chataigne Pachira insignis and Mahoe Sterculia caribea. The middle canopy, dominated by Wild Debasse, occurs at 12-27m, and a sub-canopy occurs at 3-9m. Due to the variable canopy, light penetrates to the forest floor and supports a wide range of epiphytes, a shrub layer and a ground layer. Lianas, bromeliads and aroids are abundant and orchids and ferns occasional. The bromeliads Tillandsia sp. and Vriesia sp. and the aroids Philodendron sp. are particularly abundant. This forest type shares several species with the Lower Montaine rain forest. At elevations above 240m in the Northern Range there is generally no seasonal drought and the evergreen seasonal forest grades into the mountain type forests. From about 240m to 540 m and up to 750m, depending on exposure, the emergent layer is lost. There is a closed canopy layer at 21-30m and a poorly defined lower stratum at about 7-14m. The canopy is characterized by a high diversity of trees with thin clear boles. The under-storey and ground flora are comparatively sparse. Lianas, epiphytes and ferns are poorly developed and there are very few palms. This forest has been classified as Lower Montane Rain Forest of the Byrsonima spicata-Licania ternatensis (Serette- Bois Gris) Association. In addition to the B. spicata and L. ternatensis the dominant tree species are Sterculia caribaea (Mahoe) and Licania biglandulosa (Wild Debasse). As altitude increases, the Lower Montane Rain Forest grades into Montane Rain Forest of the Eschweilera trinitensis - Richeria grandis. (Mountain guatacare – Bois Bandé) association. Here the canopy is lower, at 18 m and subject to wind damage. The tree flora is poor with dominant tree species being Ocotea canaliculata (Laurier petite-fueille) and Myrtaceae spp. (Wild Guava). There is a lower stratum at 6-12 m, an under-storey of palms, tree ferns and dense herbaceous ground flora. Epiphytes are extremely abundant and lianas are common. At the summit of the highest peaks, above 870m, there is almost incessant rain or condensation. Here small patches of Elfin Woodland occur. Trees are short and gnarled with large number of bromeliads, especially the Tank Bromeliad Glomeropitcarnia erectifolia. The dominant tree species is Clusia intertexta ( Mountain Mangrove). The Evergreen Seasonal Forest is best represented by the Madamas Watershed and the Matura National Park. A second distinctive type of Evergreen Seasonal Forest also occurs in the Matura National Park. In this forest a single species Mora excelsa accounts for 85-95% of the canopy. The Mora trees are large and supported by enormous buttresses. The canopy is high at 36-42m and dense. Epiphytes are generally rare and restricted to the canopy where there is adequate light. Discontinuous middle and lower strata occur at 12-27m and 3-9m respectively. Very little light penetrates to the forest floor where the ground flora is dominated by Mora seedlings. Current or abandoned agricultural estates occupy much of the lower slopes and valley bottoms of the Northern Range. Traditional crops include coffee, cocoa and citrus. Cocoa is traditionally cultivated under shade provided by the Immortelle tree Erythrina poeppigiana; thus even cultivated lands retain a level of tree cover. Many of these estates have been abandoned and have reverted to secondary forest. At elevations above 240m in the Northern Range there is generally no seasonal drought. From an altitude of 240 to 540 m and up to 750m depending on exposure, the forest has been classified as Lower Montane Rain Forest of the Byrsonima spicata-Licania ternatensis (Serette- Bois Gris) Association. This forest is characterized by a high diversity of trees with thin clear boles, with a closed canopy layer at 21-30m and a poorly defined lower stratum at about 7-14m. There is a comparatively sparse under-storey and ground flora. Lianas, epiphytes and ferns are poorly developed and there are very few palms. In addition to the B. spicata and L. ternatensis the dominant tree species are Sterculia caribaea (Mahoe) and Licania biglandulosa (Wild Cocoa). At an altitude of 540-750m, depending on exposure, the Lower Montane Rain Forest grades into Montane Rain Forest of the Eschweilera trinitensis - Richeria grandis. (Mountain guatacare – Bois Bandé) association. Dominant tree species include Ocotea canaliculata (Laurier petite-fueille) and Myrtaceae spp. (Wild Guava). Here the canopy is lower, at 18 m and subject to wind damage. There is a lower stratum at 6-12 m and an under-storey of palms, tree ferns and dense herbaceous ground flora. Epiphytes are extremely abundant and lianas are common. Tree flora is poor but there is dense herbaceous ground vegetation. At the summit of the highest peaks, above 870m, there is almost incessant rain or condensation. Here small patches of Elfin Woodland occur. Trees are short and gnarled with large number of bromeliads, especially the Tank Bromeliad Glomeropitcarnia erectifolia. The dominant tree species is Clusia intertexta ( Mountain Mangrove). Current or abandoned agricultural estates occupy much of the lower slopes and valley bottoms with traditional crops being coffee, cocoa and citrus. Cocoa is traditionally cultivated under shade provided by the Immortelle tree Erythrina poeppigiana thus even cultivated lands retain a level of tree cover. Many of these estates have been abandoned and have reverted to secondary growth.

The main threats to the Northern Range are habitat destruction due to bush fires and clearing of vegetation for agriculture or housing. Hunting is common throughout the Northern Range and is a particular threat to the Trinidad Piping-Guan which makes a very easy target once it has been located. The areas in which the Piping Guan are most regularly seen is a semi-abandoned agricultural estate. This suggests that they may be tolerant of some level of habitat modification. Their requirements for successful breeding however are not known and relatively undisturbed forest may be required. The Piping Guan faces the additional threat that numbers may already be below critical levels needed to maintain genetic variability. The Madamas watershed is at risk from a proposed coastal road linking to the villages to the east. These villages are currently the most remote within Trinidad and the construction of the road is likely to result in development of previously agricultural or abandoned lands.

Over the past 25 years there has been basic research, public awareness and some community-based efforts directed at conservation of the Trinidad Piping-guan Aburria papile. The major contributors include the Wildlife Section of the Forestry Division, the RARE Center for Tropical Conservation, Caribbean Union College, UWI, Glasgow University and two community based NGOs the Grande Riviere Environmental Awareness Trust and Nature Seekers Incorporated. The Trinidad Piping-guan has been designated an Environmentally Sensitive Species (ESS) and the Environmental Management Act requires that a national action plan for its protection be implemented. Ms. K. Naranjit of the University of the West Indies (UWI) began a study in 2007 funded by the Environmental Management Authority (IMA). The EMA is in the process of preparing a National Plan for management of the Trinidad Piping-guan. Interested parties are being coordinated via the ‘Pawi Project’ coordinated by John Cooper of the UWI. The Trinidad Piping-guan has been designated an Environmentally Sensitive Species (ESS) and the Environmental Management Act requires that a national action plan for its protection be implemented. Ms. K. Naranjit of the University of the West Indies (UWI) is due to begin a study in 2007 funded by the Environmental Management Authority (IMA). The EMA is in the process of preparing a National Plan for management of the Trinidad Piping-guan. Interested parties are being coordinated via the ‘Pawi Project’ coordinated by John Cooper of the UWI.

The Matura Environmentally Sensitive Area, designated as a National Park is the most recent area of the Northern Range to be identified for the protection of biodiversity under the Environmental Management Act. It however falls within the previously designated Matura and St. David forest reserves. The Madamas catchment area is currently unprotected although bordered by forest reserves to the east and west. The Quare catchment area is not designated as a protected area but receives protection to safeguard the country’s water supply. Most of the Matelot catchment area lies within the St. David Forest Reserve and roughly half of the catchment area of the Matura and Oropuche rivers lie within the Matura Forest Reserve and its eastern and western extensions. The higher reaches of the ridge include the Northern Range Wildlife Sanctuary centered on the summit of El Tucuche, and parts of the Northern Range, Tacarigua and Arima Forest Reserves. A further four forest reserves, the Las Cuevas, Yarra, Blanchisseuses and Paria Forest Reserves fall outside of the IBAs identified. Despite the large area of forest reserve the responsible authorities do not have the resources or personnel to adequately enforce the reserves. At present the area receiving greatest attention is the newly proclaimed Matura National Park.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Northern Range (Trinidad and Tobago). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/northern-range-iba-trinidad-and-tobago on 23/12/2024.