Dahl Web Site
ISLAND DIRECTORY
Islands of Montserrat (United Kingdom)
Montserrat [916]
Group: Archipelago: Leeward Islands
Country: United Kingdom - Montserrat Region: Caribbean Sea
Lat: 16.75º N Long : 62.12º W
Area: 124.1 sq. km Altitude: 915 m
Shoreline: 48.7 km (scale 1:1000000) Coastal Index: 0.3924
Depth to nearest land: >201 m
Nearest island: 30 km group: 60 km
Nearest continent: South America Distance: 650 km Isolation Index: 39
ISLAND TYPE: volcanic Natural Protection Indicator: 0
GEOLOGY/SOILS:
Serrated range of volcanic peaks, rugged coast, 7 active soufrieres
(volcanic
gas emissions) and numerous small earthquakes, last major eruption
1640;
volcanic soils
CLIMATE: wet tropical 23-30øC, 1525 mm
CATASTROPHIC THREATS: cyclones (1928), volcanic eruptions (1640), earthquakes
Threat Indicator: 3
ECOSYSTEMS: Number of Ecosystems - Terrestrial: 7 Marine: 3
Less than 1% of native vegetation remains intact in patch of virgin
rainforest
at 488-549 m on west slope of South Soufriere Peak; 2000-3000 ha of
good
secondary forest to summit peaks; palm break and elfin woodland on
ridges; dry
scrub woodland damaged by grazing; Chances Pond on summit of Chances
Peak and
few tiny ponds and marshes; 2 small mangrove areas; fringing reefs on
north,
south and west coasts; 10 beaches, rocky shores Coral reefs, Mangroves
Percent of land: Forested: 16% Developed: 0% Degraded: 0%
| SPECIES NUMBERS: |
Total |
Endemic |
Threatened (EVRI) |
| Plants |
0 |
2 |
1 |
| Butterflies |
38 |
0 |
0 |
| Land snails |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Rept/Amphib |
8 |
6 |
2 |
| Land birds |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| Mammals |
7 |
0 |
1 |
SPECIES OF CONSERVATION INTEREST:
Plants:
Xylosoma serratum (Flacourtiaceae) endemic, known from 2 specimens
(1987),
endangered
Rondeletia buxifolia (Rubiaceae) endemic, relatively common
Insects:
38 species of butterflies
Reptiles/Amphibians:
Diploglossus montisserrati (Anguidae; Galliwasp) endemic, endangered
Sphaerodactylus fantasticus ligniservulus (Gekkonidae) endemic, common
Anolis lividus (Iguanidae) endemic, common
Ameiva pluvianotata pluvianotata (Teiidae) endemic
Alsophis antillensis manselli (Colubridae) endemic, common
Typhlops monastus monastus (Typhlopidae) endemic
Mabuya mabouya (Slippery Skink) endangered
Leptodactylus fallax (Mountain Chicken [frog]) group endemic to
Montserrat
and Dominica, hunted for frogs legs
Birds:
Icterus oberi (Montserrat Oriole) endemic, no more than 1200 in forest
above
800 m, threatened by habitat destruction
5 regional endemics
seabird rookery on north-west coast between Lime Kiln Bay and
Rendezvous Bay
Mammals:
7 species of bats, 4 regional endemics, including:
Ardops nichollsi (Fruit Bat) threatened on Montserrat
Chiroderma improvisum (fruit bat) known only from 2 individuals from
Montserrat and 1 from Guadeloupe
ENDEMISM: Terrestrial: Terrestrial Endemism Indicator - Island: 2 Group: 2
Marine endemic species: 0
Marine Endemism Indicator - Island: 0 Group: 0
SPECIAL FEATURES : Special Features Indicator - Terrestrial: 2 Marine: 0
seabird rookery, some turtle nesting
INVASIVE SPECIES: Invasive Species Indicator: 2
agouti
HUMAN OCCUPATION: Inhabited, partially evacuated 1997
Population: 11675 (1982) Density: 94.1 persons/sq. km
Growth Rate: 0.3%/yr Stable
Major Human Activities: livestock grazing, tourism,, manufacturing
HUMAN IMPACTS:
Heavily cultivated before abolition of slavery in 1834; forest regrowth
threatened by exploitation and uncontrolled grazing; 11% cultivated
(1110 ha),
large areas now degraded and abandoned, causing extensive erosion and
coastal
sedimentation; sand mining on reefs; pressures for coastal tourism
development, 2500 resident expatriate retirees
Accessibility: port, airport Annual tourist arrivals: 15643
PROTECTED AREAS: Protected Area Coverage Indicators - Terrestrial: 0 Marine: 0
Number: 1 Area: Terrestrial: 0.2 sq. km Marine: 0 sq. km
Fox's Bay Bird Sanctuary (1979) protected wetland (6 ha)
Belham River Estuary (private no hunting zone) (14 ha)
Proposed protected area:
Montserrat (Soufriere Hills-Galway Estate) National Park (810 ha
proposed,
280 ha acquired)
DATA RELIABILITY: partial Data Rel. Indicator: 2
HUMAN IMPACT INDEX HI: 5
CONSERVATION IMPORTANCE INDEX CI-Terrestrial: 12 Moderate
CI-Marine: 5 Moderate
REFERENCES:
Johnson, Timothy H. 1988. Biodiversity and conservation in the
Caribbean:
profiles of selected islands. ICBP Monograph No. 1. International
Council
for Bird Preservation, Cambridge. 144 p.
Last updated: 16/09/90
Return to Island Directory Home Page
NOTE: For an explanation of each field, click on the colon (:)
Page last updated: 09/05/10