Woodford (24091)
Grenada, Caribbean

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Year of last assessment: 2009

National site name: Woodford

Central coordinates: Latitude: 12.1000, Longitude: -61.7500

System: terrestrial

Elevation (m): 15 to 150

Area of KBA (km²): 0.26495

Protected area coverage (%): 3.33

KBA classification: Global

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: The Woodford IBA is on the west coast of Grenada, north of Perseverance IBA (GD002). Its western border extends from the coast at Halifax Harbour to inland of the north–south coastal road along the Douce River. It is bordered to the north by the Douce River, except c.8 ha on the coastal side of the road, both north and south of the mouth of the Douce River.To the south, the IBA is bordered by a sanitary landfill and a proposed habitat corridor linking the site to the Perseverance Dove Sanctuary. Upriver is a gravel quarry, no longer in operation (2007). On the coastal side of the North–South road to the south are a mangrove swamp, Grenada’s main garbage dump, and an asphalt plant.

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.

Additional biodiversity: This IBA is important for the Critically Endangered Grenada Dove Leptotila wellsi. The population was estimated at 12 pairs in 2003/2004 (pre-Hurricane Ivan) (Rusk and Clouse 2004),only four pairs 3–4 months after the hurricane in 2004 (a possible under estimate due to a change in calling behaviour post hurricane) (Rusk 2005), and eight pairs in 2007 (Rusk 2008). All seven of the Lesser Antilles EBA restricted-range birds occur at this IBA, as does the threatened endemic Grenada Hook-billed Kite Chondrohierax uncinatus mirus subspecies. Non-bird biodiversity: Nothing recorded.

Habitats

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Forest	50
Shrubland	50

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: This site is private land owned primarily by a single landowner,and is unprotected. Due to its importance for L. wellsi, special management and/or its purchase for protection should be considered. Expanding industrial activity is the primary threat to the IBA, as well as clearing of land for agriculture. A proposed (2008) quarry on its southern border would negatively impact doves on adjacent sites. Hurricane Ivan (2004) caused extreme changes to vegetation structure and composition, and to the availability of resources used by the dove. Rats Rattus spp., mongoose Herpestes auropunctatus and other predators may affect the bird populations (including the dove).

Additional information

References: Rusk and Clouse (2004); Rusk (2005); Rusk (2008)