Leeward Islands Dry Forests

The Leeward Islands dry forests ecoregion covers small areas of the Leeward Islands in the eastern Caribbean, characterized by moderate relief and rainfall. Unfortunately, much of this ecoregion has been drastically reduced due to deforestation.

Leeward Islands refers to the northern islands of the Lesser Antilles chain in the eastern Caribbean Sea. Starting with Dominica, the more southerly part of this chain is the Windward Islands.

The Leeward Islands that contain dry forests include:

• Sint Eustatius: the entire island

• Barbuda: the central portion of the island

• Montserrat: interior portions

• Antigua: small coastal areas

• Anguilla: small coastal areas

Corresponding with lower elevations and less rainfall, the original forest formations of this ecoregion include:

• littoral woodland

• thorn woodland

• deciduous woodland

• semi-evergreen woodland

Flora and Fauna

Much of the Leeward Islands dry forests ecoregion has been drastically reduced in most parts of the islands. Nearly three centuries of deforestation and land clearing for intensive agricultural use have resulted in the removal or degradation of much of the original vegetation and contributed to habitat destruction and subsequent loss of species richness.

Some damp valleys still house remnants of the original woodland mixed with fruit trees, and large numbers of Acacia and Orchidaceae species can be found in specific locations.

Commonly found plant species include Tabeduia pallida, Begonia retusa, Aristida suringari, and red rodwood (Myrcia citrifolia).

Most of the remaining mammals within the Leeward islands are introduced species. This includes agouti and fallow deer for hunting, the accidental introduction of black and Norway rats, and the Indian mongoose. There are no endemic rats left in the ecoregion.

Reptiles associated with the ecoregion include Anolis lizards, several species of gecko, the red-footed tortoise, and the Lesser Antillean iguana.

The Leeward Islands are similar to other Caribbean islands in having a relatively high degree of island endemism. However, the amount of diversity and number of island endemics in the Lesser Antilles is related to island size, diversity of habitat, and distance from the mainland or another island.

_{Map depicting the location of the Leeward Islands dry forests (islands inside dashed blue box)}