Nevis Peak, St. Kitts and Nevis Photograph by Robert Young   Islands of the Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests   400 square miles (1,000 square kilometers) -- about the size of Connecticut Critical/Endangered

· A Forest in the Clouds
· Special Features
· Did You Know?
· Wild Side
· Cause for Concern
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A Forest in the Clouds

Two parallel island chains stretch across the sapphire-tinted waters of the Caribbean Sea, forming the Leeward Islands. Volcanic upwellings on the ocean floor created the high, inner island chain as lava bubbled to the water’s surface and cooled. This inner arc consists of younger islands with high, rugged profiles and mountain slopes covered in dense, moist forest. The limestone islands in the outer arc are older, and over many years the steady currents of wind and ocean waves have sculpted flat, low-lying landscapes covered with less moist forest. Vegetation here is lush and rich, with a wide variety of hardwoods, palms, and epiphytes. While many of the low-lying mangroves and dry forests have been cleared on these islands, the moist forests that grow at high altitudes where humans cannot easily go remain relatively intact.

Special Features

These islands get their name because they are sheltered from trade winds that whip across the Atlantic. The word lee is a sailing term referring to the side of a boat that is sheltered from the wind. Basse-Terre, the steep eastern half of Guadeloupe, has the largest expanse of moist forest in the Leeward Islands. A verdant chain of mountains runs through the length of Basse-Terre, peaking at the volatile La Soufriere volcano. Mighty hardwood trees, including white chestnut, sweetleaf mahogany, and redwood, soar as high as 130 feet (40 m) and are covered with epiphytes and bromeliads. Below the canopy, yellow-flowered heliconias grow amid a shorter layer of trees and bushes. The reddish-black Guadeloupe woodpecker nests here in cavities in the trunks of dead trees, while the spectacular Hercules beetle crawls along the forest floor. Males of this species have a large claw protruding from their heads, which is used in fights over females. Measuring more than 5 inches (13 cm) long, this insect is one of the world’s largest.

Active volcanoes can still be found on these islands. The Soufriere Hills Volcano on Montserrat awoke in June 1995, spewing steam and ash. It continued releasing ash and rock for the next two years, sometimes blanketing the entire island with volcanic material. The southern two-thirds of the island, including its capital, Plymouth, has been deserted since the eruption. Ash falls and acid rain have severely affected native vegetation and wildlife.

Wild Side

Tall kapok trees mix with wild plum trees, candlewood, and Spanish oak. The kapok tree has smooth gray bark and can grow up to 150 ft (45 m) tall. Its pods contain a springy floss that is used to fill mattresses. Tiny Antillean crested hummingbirds flit about the forest in search of nectar or insects. Naturalists exploring Guadeloupe may encounter the brown trembler, a medium sized bird that earned its name for its odd trembling display. When threatened, the bird will let its wings hang limply and quiver violently. Small whistling frogs enliven the forest with their distinctive calls. Guadeloupe has the most diverse amphibian fauna in the Lesser Antilles, with four species of whistling frog, two of which are found only in the highlands of Basse-Terre. The calls of the mountain chicken echo down the steep hills of Montserrat. The mountain chicken is not really a chicken but is actually a large, edible frog renowned for its tasty chicken flavor. At night these forests teem with bats.

Cause for Concern

Forests of this ecoregion are often cleared for banana plantations, road building, or urban development. Pollution, grazing, and exotic species all pose serious problems. Excessive numbers of some bird species are often killed for meat or sport or are taken as pets.

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