Status and Trends of Biodiversity
Overview
Located in the Caribbean Sea, Grenada is the largest and main island of this country that also includes the islands of Carriacou and Petit Martinique, and several small, uninhabited islands. Grenada is relatively mountainous with most of the settlements located within 1 km of the coast. Cloud forests, rainforests, evergreen forests, deciduous forests and cactus scrubs, littoral woodlands and mangrove woodlands are some of the vegetation types covering the surface of the country. Timber production from natural forests has declined considerably over the past decade due to poor stocking, depleted by more than 100 years of logging activities, clearance for agriculture and hurricane destruction. Some forests are currently under protection, such as the Grand Etang Forest Reserve. Grenada has a diverse agricultural sector consisting of permanent crops such as nutmeg, cocoa, banana, sugar cane, mangos, and avocados, as well as temporary crops such as beans, peppers, tomatoes, and sweet potatoes. Domestic livestock includes goats, sheep, cattle, pigs, chicken and ducks. Grenada’s wildlife includes 150 species of birds. Bobbies are by far the most important species group of birds. The dry forest found in the south and north of the island is considered prime habitat for two endangered and endemic species of birds, the Grenada Dove and the Grenada Hook-billed Kite. In addition, Grenada’s aquatic fauna comprises 233 marine species and 17 fresh water species.
