Granitic Seychelles forests

The Granitic Seychelles forests is a tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests ecoregion located in the Afrotropic biogeographic realm, covering sub-Saharan Africa and the southern Arabian Peninsula, spanning approximately 307.8 km². Classified under the WWF ecoregion code AT0113, 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 Granitic Seychelles 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 Granitic Seychelles forests contributes to the broader biodiversity patterns of the Afrotropic realm.

Geographic Distribution

The Granitic Seychelles forests extends entirely within Seychelles. This geographic range places it within the Afrotropic realm, one of the eight major biogeographic divisions of the world.

Notable Species

The Granitic Seychelles forests supports a range of wildlife, including Abalone (Haliotis unilateralis), Adzuki bean (Vigna angularis), african-juniper (Juniperus procera), African plume (Bauhinia galpinii), African Teak (Milicia excelsa), Aldabra Giant Tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea), Allspice (Pimenta dioica), Aloe Yucca (Yucca aloifolia), and 42 more species. Among these, 6 species are 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 Granitic Seychelles 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.