Jaraqua National Park, Dominican Republic Photograph by WWF/ Jergen Czeruenlca   Island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean Tropical and Subtropical Dry Broadleaf Forests   6,000 square miles (15,500 square kilometers) -- about the size of Hawaii Critical/Endangered

· Location and General Description
· Biodiversity Features
· Current Status
· Threats
· Ecoregion Justification
· References
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Originally these forests occupied about 20% of the original vegetation on the island of Hispaniola, particularly in the lowlands on the western and southern coasts and the valley of Cibao (center-north) and were nearly non-existent in the eastern third of the island. They have high endemism, some relict taxons and broad ecological and species diversity for both plants and animals, some of which are endangered or at risk of becoming extinct. Currently, it is estimated that less than 8% of the island’s territory represents this ecoregion. The most pressing threats are the gathering of firewood, deforestation for development and intensive use for recreational purposes (DNP 1986; Dinerstein et al. 1995; Informe Nacional 1999).

Location and General Description

Biodiversity Features

Current Status

Types and Severity of Threats

Justification of Ecoregion Delineation

Will be available January of 2002.

References

OAS. 1984. Écologie, Republique d'Haiti. Map 1:500,000. Organization of American States, Washington, D.C., USA.

Tasaico, H. 1967. Mapa ecologico de la Republica Dominicana. Unidad de Recursos Naturales de la Union Panamericana.

For more general information on this ecoregion, go to the WildWorld version of this description.