Windward Islands moist forests

The Windward 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 2,013.6 km². Classified under the WWF ecoregion code NT0179, 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 Windward 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 Windward Islands moist forests contributes to the broader biodiversity patterns of the Neotropic realm.

Geographic Distribution

The Windward Islands moist forests extends across Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. This geographic range places it within the Neotropic realm, one of the eight major biogeographic divisions of the world.

Notable Species

The Windward Islands moist forests supports a range of wildlife, including African Collared Dove (Streptopelia roseogrisea), Aroma (Dichrostachys cinerea), Awnless Barnyard Grass (Echinochloa colonum), Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon), Birdbill Dayflower (Commelina diffusa), Black mimosa (Mimosa pigra), Brazilian agouti (Dasyprocta leporina), Brown Rat (Rattus norvegicus), and 42 more species.

Conservation

Like many tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests ecosystems, the Windward 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.