Frank Sound Forest (19726)
Cayman Islands (to UK), Caribbean
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: Frank Sound Forest
Central coordinates: Latitude: 19.3333, Longitude: -81.1500
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 5 to 20
Area of KBA (km2): 2.23676
Protected area coverage (%): 6.79
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The site, east of Frank Sound Road, surrounds but is not connected to the Botanic Park (KY007). It comprises dry forest bordered by Conocarpus wetlands, dry shrubland and agricultural land. The site is 100% privately owned and unprotected, and parts are being cleared for agriculture and urban development.
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 Near-threatened Cuban Parrot caymanensis and the Near-threatened restricted-range Vitelline Warbler vitellina, each more than 1% of the global population. There are three restricted-range species: the Thick-billed vVreo alleni, Yucatan Vireo caymanensis and the Cuban Bullfinch taylori. 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.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | urban/industrial/transport
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 100 |
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 parrot and 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).