the caribbean

The Caribbean islands are a chain of more then 7000 islands, islets, cays and reefs stretching for over 2,500 miles. Conditions vary greatly across the region leading to a wide variety of habitat types. The area is typified by forested habitats found at different elevations, ranging from dry deciduous forest to montane cloud forest. The diversity of island conditions has also led to an exceptionally rich biodiversity. The islands support around 2% of the world’s species in a surface area of only 280,000 km2.

The isolation of these islands led to the evolution of many species which are now facing a range of threats. Primarily habitat destruction, either through the encroachment of cultivation or through development for infrastructure, is causing major losses. Also, the spread or invasive or introduced species that either compete with or prey on native species is leading to many plants and animals becoming critically endangered.

Durrell has been working in the Caribbean for 30 years and we currently focus our efforts primarily in St Lucia, Hispanola (Dominican Republic and Haiti), Montserrat, Antigua and the Cayman Islands.

We are working to protect a range of critically endangered species groups, including several species of iguana, snakes such as the Maria Island snake and the Antiguan racer – two of the worlds most threatened snake species. We also work with birds such as the St Lucia amazon and white-breasted thrasher, and mammals such as the elusive solenodon and hutia of Hispanola.

The results of a collaborative project to conduct a biodiversity assessment of the Centre Hills region of Montserrat are now available: download the full report here (12MB), the main body of the report here (8MB) or the Appendices here (4MB).

Associated with this assessment, Durrell and Montserrat's Department of the Environment have led the development of an Action Plan for the mountain chicken frog Leptodactylus fallax. Download the full action plan here (2.4MB).