Download Broadleaf Forest - Forestry Department

These are primary forest with broadleaf
trees at least 5 m tall and interlocking
crowns, ie, a closed canopy. They show
minimal human disturbance and are rich in
flora biodiversity. They also provide habitat
for a host of animal species, many of
which are endemic to Jamaica.
closed
broadleaf
forests
Closed broadleaf forest in the Cockpit Country.
Typical species found in the Closed Broadleaf forests of the Blue Mountains include
Soapwood (Clethra occidentalis), above right, and Galimenta Bullet (Pouterial multiflora),
above left, while common species in the Cockpit Country are White Olive (Terminalia
arbuscula), Broadleaf (Terminalia latifolia) and Burn Eye (Sapium cuneatum).
There are approximately 88,000
hectares of closed broadleaf forest
remaining, representing about 8% of
Jamaica's total land mass. Of this,
nearly 65,000 hectares have been
declared forest reserves with protected
status under the Forest Act, 1996. The
largest continuous areas of these
forests are found in the Blue Mountain
Forest Reserve, which encompasses
both the Blue and John Crow
Mountains, and in the Cockpit Country
Forest Reserve.
The soils of the Blue Mountains are
acidic, being derived from volcanic
rocks, hence its forests are distinct from
those growing on the alkaline limestone
soils of the John Crow Mountains and
Cockpit Country.
Smaller pockets of closed broadleaf
forest are found in the Dry Harbour and
the Dolphin Head Mountains, both of
which are forest reserves. These areas
are no less rich in biodiversity, for
example, over 570 species of vascular
plants have been identified in the
Dolphin Head of which 162 are endemic
to Jamaica, and more than 20 are found
nowhere else in
Jamaica.
Lower montane closed broadleaf forest in the Blue Mountains.
Photographs: Tracy Parker, Forestry Department
The Blue Mountains Show high levels
of endemism in amphibian, reptile and
invertebrate (insects and terrestrial
molluscs) fauna groups.