Cape St. Mary's, Newfoundland, Canada Photograph by K. Sommerer   Eastern North America: The island of Newfoundland in Canada Boreal Forests/Taiga   800 square miles (2,000 square kilometers) -- about two thirds the size of Rhode Island Relatively Stable/Intact

· Peninsular Headlands
· Special Features
· Did You Know?
· Wild Side
· Cause for Concern
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Peninsular Headlands

This small ecoregion is restricted to the coastal areas of eastern Newfoundland. Streams have cut deeply into the landscape, creating a rugged, rocky coastline. These headlands are exposed to high winds, cool temperatures, and salty spray for most of the year. The moss-heath plant community found in this ecoregion is unique to North America.

Special Features

The upland areas of the ecoregion are covered by glacial soil deposits and peat, which is a thick layer of decomposing plants. Wetlands cover more than 25 percent of this ecoregion.

	One of the world's largest northern gannet colonies is found at Cape St. Mary's in this ecoregion. These high-diving white seabirds have long, pointed, black-tipped wings.

Wild Side

The ecoregion supports dense carpets of moss and lichen, along with low growing heath shrubs and dwarf balsam fir. The moss and peat are characteristics of the area's blanket bogs, plant communities found only here and in Iceland, Scotland, and Spitzbergen. Dwarf balsam fir trees live in higher elevation areas. Caribou, willow ptarmigans, and many seabirds make their home in this small but unique ecoregion.

Cause for Concern

An estimated 95 percent of the ecoregion remains intact. Habitat loss has occurred from roads. The greatest current threat is from all terrain vehicles, particularly around seabird colonies. Moss, peat, and lichen communities are easily damaged by vehicles. Caribou poaching is also a problem in this ecoregion.

For more information on this ecoregion, go to the World Wildlife Fund Scientific Report.