Ecoregions of the Caribbean

The Greater Antilles mangrove ecoregion comprises various coastal areas in Cuba, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, and Jamaica. These mangroves support relatively high levels of endemic flora and fauna and are often part of complex assemblages of habitats.

The Hispaniolan dry forests are located throughout the southern and western two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola. The natural vegetation consists primarily of species belonging to the cactus family and shrubs and trees adapted to the limited water availability.

The Hispaniolan moist forests ecoregion is a tropical broadleaf forest on the island of Hispaniola. These wet forests maintain distinct flora and fauna, with many unique species. Initially, these forests covered about 60% of the original vegetation on the island.

The Hispaniolan pine forests are found on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles. This ecoregion is today mainly in mountainous areas of the Cordillera Central and the Sierra de Bahoruco, as well as other small patches in Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

The Trinidad and Tobago moist forests ecoregion covers most of the two-island nation located off the northeastern coast of South America. While small portions of the islands are home to other habitat types, such as mangroves and dry forests, the moist forests dominate the landscape and support an exceptionally diverse flora and fauna.

Nestled amidst the azure waters of the eastern Caribbean Sea, the Leeward Islands dry forests ecoregion sprawls across secluded corners of the Leeward Islands. Characterized by gentle relief and moderate rainfall, this ecoregion, though weathered by centuries of deforestation, still retains echoes of its former magnificence, offering glimpses into its enduring beauty.

The Leeward Islands moist forests ecoregion is captivating and diverse. It spans the northern islands of the Lesser Antilles chain in the eastern Caribbean Sea. The ecoregion within this vibrant island arc is characterized by rugged, volcanic mountains cloaked in lush tropical forests—a testament to the resilience and richness of island ecosystems. The ecoregion showcases the remarkable diversity that can thrive within these isolated yet interconnected Caribbean islands.

Stretching across the northern reaches of the Lesser Antilles, the Leeward Islands Xeric Scrub Ecoregion encompasses a diverse array of dry, non-forested habitats on the peripheries of these sun-drenched islands. From the sandy shores to the arid savannas, this ecoregion supports a resilient community of plants and animals adapted to the region's semi-arid conditions and the impacts of human land use over centuries.

Tucked away in the southernmost reaches of the Caribbean archipelago, the islands of Trinidad and Tobago are home to diverse ecosystems, including a unique ecoregion known as the Trinidad and Tobago Dry Forests. While occupying only a small portion of the nation's total land area, these sun-drenched, deciduous woodlands found in the northwest region of Trinidad and the northernmost tip of Tobago play a vital role in the islands' overall ecological tapestry.

The Lesser Antilles mangrove ecoregion is a unique and diverse coastal environment at the southeastern edge of the Caribbean Sea. This region encompasses the coastal margins of a chain of islands stretching from Sombrero and Anguilla in the north to Grenada in the south. Despite their smaller size compared to their counterparts in the Greater Antilles, these islands boast a remarkable level of species diversity and endemism.