Leeward Islands moist forests

The Leeward Islands moist forests is a tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests ecoregion located in the Neotropic biogeographic realm, covering Central and South America, the Caribbean, and southern portions of Mexico, spanning approximately 986.4 km². Classified under the WWF ecoregion code NT0134, this region represents a distinct ecological community shaped by its unique combination of climate, geography, and evolutionary history.

Climate and Vegetation

This ecoregion experiences warm year-round with high annual rainfall, typically exceeding 2,000 mm. The dominant vegetation consists of dense, multi-layered canopy of broadleaf evergreen trees. These conditions create the foundation for the ecological communities found within the Leeward Islands moist forests.

Ecological Significance

These forests are the most biodiverse terrestrial ecosystems on Earth, hosting an extraordinary density of plant and animal species per unit area. Epiphytes, lianas, and a rich understorey characterise the complex vertical structure. The Leeward Islands moist forests contributes to the broader biodiversity patterns of the Neotropic realm.

Geographic Distribution

The Leeward Islands moist forests extends across Antigua and Barbuda and Saint Kitts and Nevis. This geographic range places it within the Neotropic realm, one of the eight major biogeographic divisions of the world.

Notable Species

The Leeward Islands moist forests supports a range of wildlife, including Awnless Barnyard Grass (Echinochloa colonum), Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon), Black mimosa (Mimosa pigra), Brown Rat (Rattus norvegicus), bull-nettle (Cnidoscolus urens), Candlenut tree (Aleurites moluccanus), Cane Toad (Rhinella marina), Castor (Ricinus communis), and 42 more species. Among these, 1 species is classified as threatened on the IUCN Red List, underscoring the conservation importance of this ecoregion.

Conservation

Like many tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests ecosystems, the Leeward Islands moist forests faces threats from deforestation, agricultural expansion, logging, and climate change. Conservation efforts in this ecoregion focus on habitat preservation, sustainable land management, and protecting corridors that connect fragmented habitat patches.