Current view: Text account
Site description (2007 baseline):
Site location and context
The St. Kitts Central Forest Reserve is comprised of all areas over 300 meters elevation. The dominant feature of the reserve is Mt. Liamuiga (1,156 m), the highest point on St. Kitts. It is part of the mountain range which runs north to south and forms the northern part of the island. Human settlement is limited to the lower elevations, where sugarcane fields were farmed and villages dot the coastal area. Canyons, or ghauts, radiate from the peak.
Restricted-range species found in the reserve include the Bridled Quail-dove
Geotrygon mustacea, Lesser Antillean Flycatcher
Myiarchus oberi berlepshii, Purple-throated Carib
Eulampis jugularis, Green-throated Carib
Eulampis holosericeus,
Antillean Crested Hummingbird
Orthorhyncus cristatus, Brown Trembler
Cinclocerthia ruficauda pavida, Pearly-eyed Thrasher
Margarops fuscatus, Scaly-breasted Thrasher
Margops fuscus, Lesser Antillean Bullfinch
Loxigilla noctis, and Antillean Euphonia
Euphonia musica. Specific locations and population estimates were not found in the literature. Steadman et al. report that all except the Green-throated are common in undisturbed moist forests on St. Kitts.Six species of neotropical migrants have been reported from this habitat type on St. Kitts
Non-bird biodiversity: No endemic or threatened botanical species are reported for St. Kitts. Restricted-range herpetofauna and bats are not known but likely exist within the proposed IBA.
Vegetation in the upper elevations is composed of rainforest, palm brake, and elfin woodland
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
It is not known if hunting is a threat to game birds such as the Bridled Quail-dove. The Wild Birds Protection Ordinance of 1913 prohibited or regulated hunting of 27 species. The National Conservation and Environment Protection Act of 1987 enables further protection for approximately 90 avian species. Enforcement levels of these laws are unknown.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
There is no ongoing avian research. The Central Forest Reserve is now part of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Protected Areas and Associated Livelihoods (OPAAL) Project. This conservation project aims to develop sustainable resource extraction which benefits local residents
The proposed IBA encompasses all of the mountain range, from Mt. Liamuiga south to Mount Olivee above the 300 meter elevation, which forms the Central Forest Reserve. The Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park is a World Heritage Site. Brimstone Hill is located on the western slope of Mt. Liamuiga but is not included within the IBA boundary.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: St. Kitts Central Forest Reserve (St Kitts and Nevis). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/st.-kitts-central-forest-reserve-iba-st-kitts-and-nevis on 23/12/2024.
