Caroni Bird Sanctuary, Trinidad Photograph by Alana Trafford   Island of Trinidad in the Caribbean Mangroves   100 square miles (200 square kilometers) -- about the size of Washington DC Critical/Endangered

· Perfect for Mangroves
· Special Features
· Did You Know?
· Wild Side
· Cause for Concern
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Perfect for Mangroves

The mighty Orinoco River spills out into the Gulf of Paria, only 7 miles (11 km) from the island of Trinidad. All this freshwater causes low salinity levels off the coast of Trinidad, and conditions are perfect for mangrove development. Mangroves grow all along the island's coasts. Along the eastern coast, brackish swamps and mangroves intermix in the Nariva Swamp, a wetland of international importance. Seasonally flooded marshes and one of only two known communities of the moriche palm tree can be found here.

Special Features

Mangroves of this ecoregion range in height from 9 to 75 feet (3 to 23 m). They are found in both freshwater and saltwater and in association with a variety of other habitats, including coastlines, lagoons, basins, and salt ponds. Along the Atlantic coast and the Gulf of Paria, mangroves are associated with complex wetland systems and the mouths of rivers. Mangroves are also found in association with coral reefs and sea grasses, although coral diversity is lower here than farther north in the Caribbean because of lower salinity levels. The climate is tropical and humid, with annual rainfall averaging 62 inches (1,550 mm).

	Red howler monkeys are aptly named for their loud, howling vocalizations, often heard at dawn.

Wild Side

Trinidad’s Caroni Swamp features densely packed nesting colonies of cattle egrets, snowy egrets, and scarlet ibises. These are just a few of the species associated with mangrove forests. Others include blue and green herons, black-bellied whistling ducks, and jacanas. In addition to 32 species of bats, mammals include red howler monkeys, white-fronted capuchins, and West Indian manatees. Spectacled caimans and American crocodiles are among the reptile species found in this ecoregion.

Cause for Concern

Mangroves are used for timber and charcoal, and their bark is used in leather tanning. The conversion of large areas of mangroves to agricultural uses, the discharge of industrial run-off, petroleum residues, sewage and solid waste, and residential development are other threats to native habitats. The unsustainable harvesting of oysters and crabs is another concern. Oysters are harvested by cutting the red mangrove roots that they settle on.

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