Morne Trois Pitons National Park (20863)
Dominica, Caribbean

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Global KBA criteria: A1a, A1b, A1d, B2

Year of last assessment: 2019

National site name: Morne Trois Pitons National Park

Central coordinates: Latitude: 15.3598, Longitude: -61.3253

System: terrestrial

Elevation (m): 152 to 1424

Area of KBA (km²): 66.93882

Protected area coverage (%): 100.00

KBA classification: Global

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: The Morne Trois Pitons National Park is the largest of Dominica’s three national parks, and comprises some of the best remaining examples of volcanic island ecosystems in the Caribbean. The park protects active volcanic and geothermal areas, mountains, clear streams, various forms of wild fauna (including Dominica’s two Amazona parrot species), and various types of tropical forest for conservation, educational, scientific, recreational and scenic purposes. Morne Trois Pitons, with a height of 1,424m and named by the island’s early French settlers for its three prominent peaks, is the second highest mountain on Dominica. The Park is 64.7km2 and starts at approximately 152m elevation at the lowest point in the southeast to 1,424m at the summits of Morne Trois Pitons. The Park was established in July 1975 under the National Parks and Protected Areas Act and contains some 6,475 hectares of state-owned lands. John D. Archbold donated another 375 hectares to be included as the Archbold Preserve. The Morne Trois Pitons National Park was enlisted by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1997, and was formally inscribed the following year. Some of the natural attractions within the Park include: the Emerald Pool, Freshwater Lake, Boeri Lake, Boiling Lake and the Valley of Desolation, and Middleham Falls. There are several communities located in close proximity to the western, southwestern and southeastern boundaries of the Morne Trois Pitons National Park, and these include: Eggleston, Cochrane, Grand Fond, Laudat, Giraudel, Petite Savanne and Bagatelle.

Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs. KBA identified in the CEPF Ecosystem Profile of the Caribbean Islands Hotspot (2019). Taxonomy, nomenclature and threat category follow the 2017 IUCN Red List.

Additional biodiversity: This MTPNP supports one endangered and one vulnerable species of Parrot (Amazona imperialis and A. arausiaca respectively), and 15 restricted-range species. Yellow Warbler (Dendroica petechia), Hooded Warbler (Wilsonia citrina), Blackpoll Warbler (Dendroica striata), Northern Waterthrush (Seiurus noveboracensis), and Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) are the more common migrant species seen within the Freshwater Lake area. The Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea), Yellow-crowned Night Heron ( Nyctanassa violaceus), Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus), Blue-winged Teal (Anas discors), Northern Shoveler (Actitis macularia), Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca), Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes), Belted Kingfisher (Ceryle alcyon), Ringed Kingfisher (Ceryle torquatus) are the species most frequently observed in the park. Some of the other species of interest found within the MTPNP include the Blue-headed Hummingbird (Cyanophaia bicolor) that is endemic only to Dominica and Martinique; the Plumbeous Warbler (Dendroica plumbea) that occurs only on Dominica, Guadeloupe and Marie Galante; the Forest Thrush (Cichlherminia lherminieri), and the Rufous-throated Solitaire (Myadestes genibarbis). In May 2007, a Black-capped Petrel (Pterodroma hasitata) was found in the village of Trafalgar, which is within only 3km from the boundaries of the park. Non-bird biodiversity: Other flora found in the Morne Trois Pitons National Park include (Symphonia globulifera) Mang Blan, (Licania ternatensis) Bwa Dyab, (Tovomita plumieri) Mang Rouge, (Cyrilla racemiflora) Bwa Rouge, (Chimarhis cymosa) Bwa Riviere, (Richeria grandis) Bwa Bandé, (Talauma dodecapetala) Bwa Pen, (Clusia mangle) Kaklen, (Euterpe broadwayi and (Prestoea acuminate) Palmiste, (Cyathea spp.) Tree Fern and the endemic bromeliad (Pitcairnia micotrinensis). Fauna species include several of Dominica’s twelve species of Bats, Agouti (Dasyprocta leporine), Opossum (Didelphys marsupialis insularis), Boa Constrictor (Constrictor constrictor nebulosa) and at least two other snake species Kouwès nwè (Alsophis antillensis sibonius) and Kouwès jengá (Liophis juliae juliae), the endemic Tree Lizard (Anolis oculatus), Hercules Beetle (Dynastes hercules Hercules) and an endemic tink frog Eleutherodactylus amplinympha.

Habitats

Summary of habitats in KBA: Morne Trois Pitons National Park (MTPNP) is an area of extremely high rainfall and is largely covered by elfin woodland and montane forest, with rainforest at lower elevations. There are also montane swamps dominated by Symphonia globulifera and Amanoa caribaea, and patches of marsh lands dominated by sedges (Eleocharis spp) The dominant tree species are Gommier (Dacryodes excelsa), Chatannyé (Sloanea caribaea), Karapit (Amanoa caribaea) and Mang Blan (Symphonia globulifera) in the rainforest, with Kaklen (Clusia mangle) being the dominant species at higher elevations. Most of the land in the park serves as protection forests, but the natural attractions listed above, as well as the nature trails (e.g. to the summit of Morne Trois Pitons and Morne Anglais), have been developed for recreation and nature tourism. The park serves as a watershed area and provides water for the island’s four (connected) hydro-electricity power plants. The Freshwater Lake serves as a reservoir to provide water for hydro-electricity power plants. Some other areas serve as potable water catchments for rural and urban communities.

Land use: nature conservation and research | tourism/recreation | water management

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Forest	95
Wetlands(Inland)	5

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Volcanic Eruptions: The fact that the MTPNP encompasses one of the more active volcanic centres on Dominica, gives rise to high future volcanic eruption that will impact on the birds’ habitat and food source. Deforestation: there is small scale illegal agricultural farming activity in the areas where the birds inhabit and if allowed to continue will impact on population size of both species and food source. Habitat loss: There is much concern of loss of habitat due to agricultural expansion which impacts on availability of nesting trees and food for both parrot species. Hurricanes: Dominica like the other Eastern Caribbean Islands lies in the path of hurricane belt and as a result are vulnerable to hurricanes and tropical storm strikes annually. Some of these storms impact on nest cavities and food source of both species of parrots.

Additional information