Bois Musicien (20499)
Haiti, Caribbean

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Year of last assessment: 2008

National site name: Bois Musicien

Central coordinates: Latitude: 18.3223, Longitude: -74.0167

System: terrestrial

Elevation (m): 950 to 1200

Area of KBA (km²): 10.6148

Protected area coverage (%): 88.78

KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: Bois Musicien is located at the southwestern tip of the Macaya Biosphere Reserve in the Massif de la Hotte on the Morne Cavalier mountain chain. It consists of karst formation border to the North and west by the upper Morne Cavalier/chaine Formond and slopes of Cavalier, to the east by the plain of Durand and to the south by the harsh karstic zone of Soulette. Nearby localities of Durand, Portal, Formond connect to Cavalier by paths used intensely especially during market days and during planting and harvest seasons. Altitudes range between 950 to 1200 meters and mean annual daytime temperature 22°C. Bi-modal annual precipitations range between 2500-3000 mm with two rainy peaks in May and October; driest months are December to February. At higher altitudes, cloud cover is common, restricting growth of certain crops that are cultivated in the karst formation area. The population is left in isolation and benefit from sporadic projects. Family size is 8. The majority of the people in these areas are very poor, live in ajoupas, plant tubers (yam, sweet potato, taro), corn, plantains, black beans, cabbage, carrots and thyme that are sold in local markets and use in the household. In addition, they raise free style cattle (sheep, goats, cows) and pigs for cash and meat. Relatively richer families, those that have family abroad (France, St. Martin, Guadeloupe) control the land (they don't own the land but they consider it their property) in Plain Durand and Plain Formond and poorer work in their fields or are shepherds.

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 bird diversity of Bois Musicien is far higher than any other area surveyed in the Macaya Biosphere Reserve area. Species diversity also increases in winter months when migratory species arrive from northern latitudes and utilize the habitats. Last inventory of February 2004t included mistnetting, sight counting and banding all day from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Bird species of special concern are the Hispaniolan Highland-Tanager (White-Winged Warbler), Western, Antillean Piculet that are threatened due to habitat lost. Although local people that have participated as guides in scientific research, understand banding, they have no place to report scientific information, which is unfortunately lost. In addition, because of lack of funding, simple management of wildlife is lacking. Due to the fact that this area was managed from 1989 to 2001, Hispaniolan Highland-Tanager had been able to recover. Interestingly enough, Swainson’s Warbler was reported for the first time during the 2004 exploration. Non-bird biodiversity: There are also a number of endemics. The most notorious are the snails and the small frogs of the genus Eleutherodactylus (Eleutherodactylus parapelates, Eleutherodactylus amadeus, Eleutherodactylus corona, Eleutherodactylus dolomedes, etc. ), many of them described only after 1985. A number of lizards (Anolis sp.) and other reptiles are restricted to the Massif de la Hotte and the karstic formation of Bois Musicien. Land mammals include the Hutia (Plagiodontia aedium) and the relic insectivore (Solenondon paradoxus ). Bat include species restricted to the one or two islands of the Greater Antilles such as Sooty Moustached Bat (Pteronotus quadridens), Parnell's Moustached Bat (Pteronotus parnelli), Leach's Long-tongued Bat (Monophyllus redmani clinedaphus), Dominican Fig-eating Bat (Phyllops haitiensis), Haitian Flower Bat (Phyllonycteris poeyi obtuse), Hispaniolan Brown Flower Bat (Erophylla sezekorni bombifrons), Big Brown Bat (Eptesicus fuscus hispaniolae) and Haitian Free-tailed Bat (Tadarida brasiliensis constanzae) A number of butterflies (Calisto sp), insects and mollusks are endemic to the area as well.

Delineation rationale: The area needs verification after the final version of the polygon is review.

Habitats

Summary of habitats in KBA: Bois Musicien is situated in the wet forest on limestone (karst). According to Judd (1986), vegetation is very diverse and includes patches of broadleaf forest on karst fragmented by gardens (very small fields of less than 1000 sq meters). The woods of Bois Musicien show a mosaic of habitats caused by human disturbance (cultivation, wood gathering, cattle raising). Important trees or shrubs include: Dendropanax arboreus, Phyllanthus myriophyllus, Lunania mauritii, Prunus occidentalis, Prunus myrtifolia, Beilschmeidia pendula, Ardisia fuertesii, Tabebuja conferta, Mecranium haitiense, M microdictyum, Mecranium revolutum, Miconia subcompressa, Miconia laevigata, Amyris apiculata, Piper hispidum, Piper confusum, Piper amarum, Calycogonium apiculatum, Calycogonium calyopteris, Cestrum picardae, Cestrum bicolor, Lobelia robusta, Psychotria berteroana, Psychotria pubescens, Zanthoxylum haitiense, Zanthoxylum martinicense, Alchornea latifolia, Chrysophyllum argenteum, Rhytidophyllum bicolor, Gesnena spp., Solanum antillarum, Solanum torvum, Solanum erianthum, Turpinia picardae, Allophylsis crassinervis, Polygala penaea, Casearia sylvestris, Guarea guidonia, Comocladia pinnatifolia, Cupania americana, Meliosma recurvata, Palicouna alpina, Clusia clusioides, Gymnanthes lucida, Eugenia glabrata, Eugenia christii, Eupatorium stigmaticum, Eupatorium nervosum, Eupatorium microchaetum, Besleria lutea, Cecropia peltata, Heliconia bihai, Daphnopsis americana, Daphnopsis crassifolia, Brunfelsia picardae, Vernonia saepium, Jacquinea eggersii, Ossaea setulosa, Dipholis cubensis, Nectandra patens, Nectandra membranacea, Phoebe cf. montanum, Ficus citrifolia, Cyathea furfuracea, Cnemidaria horida, Alsophila horteana, Senecio stenodon, Salvia spp., Garcinia barkeriana, Calyptranthes sintenisli, Pithecellobiwn oppositifolium, Coccothrinax cf. montana, Maytenus hotteanus, Hameha patens, Didmyopanax tremulum and Micropholis polita. Common vines include: Cissampelos pareira, Serjania polyphylla, Cissus verticillata, Cayaponia americana, Stigmaphyllon emarginatum, Stigmaphyllon angulosum, Philodendron consanguineum, Columnea domingensis, Senecio hotteana, Marcgravia oligandra and Anthurium scandens. Commonly found herbs are Begonia pycantha, Renealmia jamaicensis, Renealmia densiflora, Ichnanthus pallens, Lasiacis divaricata, and a great many species of Pilea and Peperomia. Terrestrial ferns are abundant; members of the Bromeliaceae are very common. Loranthaceous parasites, such as Dendrophthora serpyllifolia, Phoradendron anceps, and Phoradendron piperoides, are frequent. The epiphytic ericad Sphyrospermum majus is very common; this forest also includes a great diversity of epiphytic ferns. In disturb areas, herbaceous and weedy species include Castilleja arvensis Phytolacca rivinoides, Cerastium glomeratum, Stellaria media, Chamissoa altissima, Triumfetta semitriloba, Anoda hastata, Sida acuta, Sida rhombifolia, Urena lobata, Chamaesyce hypericifolia, Desmodium axiliare, Kalanchoe pinnata, Tibouchina longifolia, Asclepias nivea, Lantana camara, Lantana trifolia, Stachytarpheta jamaicensis, Verbena urticifolia, Cynoglossum amabile, Solanum capsicoides, S. nigrescens, Dichondra repens, Bidens alba, Conyza canadensis, Eclipta prostrata, Emilia fosbergii, Youngia japonica, Vernonia saepium, Andropogon bicornis, Andropogon leucostachyus, Lasiacis divaricata, Panicum glutinosum, Paspalum fimbriatum, Setaria corrugata, and Sporobolus indicus.

Land use: agriculture | energy production and mining | nature conservation and research | rangeland/pastureland

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Forest	100

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Ephemerality of conservation program, habitat destruction, introduced animals, fuelwood extraction, lumber extraction, demography, land tenure, introduction of exotic species, erosion, recreational activities, hunting and conversion to agriculture.

Additional information