Franklin's Forest (19725)
Cayman Islands (to UK), Caribbean
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: Franklin's Forest
Central coordinates: Latitude: 19.2833, Longitude: -81.1333
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 3 to 10
Area of KBA (km2): 1.11924
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The site, south of the Salina and east of the Botanic Park (KY007), in the centre of the eastern districts, comprises dry forest bordered by Conocarpus wetlands and agricultural plantations. Part of the site, area yet unknown, has recently been purchased by the Crown; the remainder is privately owned and all is unprotected.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas)
Additional biodiversity: The major species are the Near-threatened Cuban Parrot caymanensis and the Vitelline Warbler vitellina, each more than 1% of the global population. The largest flocks (150+) of Cuban Parrots on Grand Cayman congregate on the edge of a fruit plantation. There are three restricted-range species: the Thick-billed Vireo alleni, Yucatan Vireocaymanensis and Cuban Bullfinch taylori. The Grand Cayman Thrush was last seen here in 1938. There are five biome species: the Caribbean Dove collaris, West Indian Woodpecker caymanensis, Loggerhead Kingbird caymanensis, Western Spindalis salvini and the Greater Antillean Grackle caymanensis.There are 19 breeding taxa: endemic races of Northern Flickers gundlachii, Caribbean Elaenia caymanensis and Bananaquit sharpei; indigenous species are the Whitecrowned Pigeon, Zenaida Dove, White-winged Dove, Barn Owl and La Sagra's Flycatcher; Mangrove Cuckoos and Northern Mockingbirds breed on the forest edge. Wintering migrants include Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Grey Catbird, White-eyed Vireo, Yellow-throated Vireo and several species of warbler, most commonly Northern Parula, Cape May Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, Palm Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, American Redstart and Ovenbird. Non-bird biodiversity: Plants endemic to Grand Cayman: Chionanthus caymanensis var. longipetala, Crossopetalum caymanense, Allophylus cominia var. caymanensis; Myrmecophilia thompsoniana thompsonia, Dendrophylax fawcettii and Tolumnia caymanense. Reptiles endemic to Grand Cayman: Anolis conspersus lewisi, Sphaerodactylus argivus lewisi, Tropidophis caymanensis caymanensis and Alsophis cantherigerus caymanensis; the endangered Cyclura (nubile) lewisi occurs in adjacent shrubland.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 25 | |
| Forest | 50 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 25 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The threats of habitat loss are similar for all privately owned and unprotected forest in the eastern half of Grand Cayman as clearing and fragmentation causes loss of parrotand other avian breeding habitat. Young parrots are taken as captives from the nest and the nest site is usually destroyed, also illegal shooting of parrots as a crop pestcontinues (over 200 were shot in 2000).