King's Hill Forest Reserve (19933)
St Vincent and the Grenadines, Caribbean

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Year of last assessment: 2009

National site name: King's Hill Forest Reserve

Central coordinates: Latitude: 13.1488, Longitude: -61.1608

System: terrestrial

Elevation (m): 122 to 183

Area of KBA (km²): 0.41442

Protected area coverage (%): 55.46

KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: King’s Hill is the oldest Forest Reserve in St. Vincent and the second oldest in the Western Hemisphere. It was established in 1791 to ‘attract the clouds and rain’ and thus provide rain for surrounding areas that were otherwise dry and windswept. The natural vegetation of the area is Dry Woodland forest and soils are generally light and sandy. The site also contains the oldest remaining sample plot established by J. S. Beard in1949 (Ivor Jackson and Associates, 2004). Due to its age and historical significance, the site is often used by the Forestry Department for research, school tours and dendrology training. However, use of the site is restricted and legally requires the permission of the Director of the Forestry Department.

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: Six (6) RRS and no Globally-threatened species are found. Other notable species found in the area include the Black Hawk and Scaly-naped Pigeon. Non-bird biodiversity: The endemic lizards A. griseus and A. vincentiana are found, along with endemic sub-species M. bruesi. It is possible that species endemic flora may also be present.

Delineation rationale: Mark has the shapefiles.

Habitats

Summary of habitats in KBA: The natural vegetation of the area is Dry Woodland forest and soils are generally light and sandyThe site also contains the oldest remaining sample plot established by J. S. Beard in1949 (Ivor Jackson and Associates, 2004). Due to its age and historical significance, the site is often used by the Forestry Department for research, school tours and dendrology training. However, use of the site is restricted and legally requires the permission of the Director of the Forestry Department.

Land use: nature conservation and research | tourism/recreation

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Forest	100

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The Reserve is located near the highway and thus is easily accessible to residents and tourists. Human pressure on the site will continue to be a concern. Illegal hunting of the iguana, agouti and opossum is a major issue within this Reserve. All species are protected year-round within this site, however wild yams and other plant material are also harvested from this Reserve and this threatens the integrity of the ecosystem. It is possible that domesticated animals (cats, dogs, chickens and small ruminants) use this Reserve. Finally, the accumulation of debris during the dry season creates a possible fire hazard.

Additional information