• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Map
• Reference and further resources

Site description (2008 baseline)
Trou Caïman, also known as Dlo gaye is a 2500 hectare freshwater shallow lake, located at N18º38’12’’ and W72º8’20’’, 20 km northeast of Port-au-Prince, in Plaine du Cul-de-Sac at 10 m elevation. Trou Caiman, together with Lake Azuéi and the Enriquillo wetlands in the Dominican Republic, forms part of an ecoregion of outstanding biological value. This important wetland is exploited by 150 local fishermen, by hunters for migratory ducks and visited as in ecotours. Population is estimated at 22,000 people living also on agriculture (sugar cane, sweet potatoes, beans) and artisans (that use reeds and sedges to weave straw products, i. e. baskets, hats, mats). Its proximity to the capital is an opportunity to develop an attractive watchable pond, as suggested by the enabling activity the Societe Audubon Haiti's proposal to the Ministry of Environment, MARNDR and TNC in December 2004.

Key biodiversity
More than 100 species of waterfowl and land birds are found in Trou Caiman. This includes flocks of Greater Flamingos, migratory species and the following endemics: Broad-billed Tody, Hispaniolan Parakeet, Hispaniolan Woodpecker, Palmchat, Hispaniolan Palm and White-necked Crow and Antillean Mango restricted to Hispaniola and Puerto Rico. WIWDs occurred historically, but there are no recent confirmed sightings.

Non-bird biodiversity: Flora: Inventory needs to be updated to identify the endemics, since Haiti counts numerous endemic sedges and reeds.

Acknowledgements
Florence Sergile, Biodiversity management specialist, Assistant professor, Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, fsergile@ufl.edu or fsergile@yahoo.fr. Evelyne Bouchereau, Assistant director, Société Audubon Haïti, Evelinebouchereau@audubonhaiti.org Paul Judex Edouarzin, Natural science and environmental education specialist, M.S., biologist and ecologist. Ministry of Environment, Haiti. judouarzin@yahoo.fr Dimitri Norris, Chief of Biodiversity Management and Erosion Control, Ministry of Environment, Haiti, Dimitrinorris@hotmail.com JR Crouse, Free Methodist Church, Lisa G. Sorenson, Ph.D., Project Coordinator, West Indian Whistling-Duck and Wetlands Conservation Project, Adjunct Assistant Professor, Dept. of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, e-mail: lsoren@bu.edu. URL: www.whistlingduck.org

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Trou Caïman (Haiti). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/trou-caïman-iba-haiti on 23/11/2024.