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VC005
Colonarie Forest Reserve
Location St Vincent and the Grenadines, Mainland St Vincent
Central coordinates 61o 9.58' West  13o 13.59' North
IBA criteria A1, A2
Area 1,590 ha
Altitude 223 - 914m
Year of IBA assessment 2008





Ornithological information The Reserve is a traditional stronghold for the St. Vincent Parrot, which numbered 142 individuals in 2004 (Forestry Department, 2004). The site supports the other Globally-threatened species, the Whistling Warbler, and thirteen (13) RRS. Other important species include the House Wren, Short-tailed Swift, Scaly-naped Pigeon, Caribbean Elaenia and Black Hawk.

Site description This Reserve essentially encompasses the mid and upper reaches of the Colonarie watershed. The Colonarie River is the longest watercourse on St. Vincent and its watershed; the second largest on the island has a drainage area of about 8.8 sq. miles (22.7 km2). The area faces continued land pressure from the population living within the lower regions and has in the past seen intensive exploitation for agriculture. This Reserve is a main source of potable water and hydro electricity. Within the upper parts (over 1000 ft/305 m) of the Reserve, slopes cut deeply into ash agglomerates, and basaltic bedrock creating an area of irregular, complex and steeply sloping landform units (Reid, Collins and Associates, 1994). The steepness of the terrain also causes high rates of erosion and landslide hazards. Much of the area is still covered with Primary forest but encroachment is a major concern. This natural forest zone is being converted to agriculture cultivation and pasturing of animals. Timber is also removed for charcoal purposes. Land settlement is also a serious threat to the remaining Primary Forest (Reid, Collins and Associates, 1994). The average rainfall within this area is 214 inches (5,436 mm) (Metereological Office, VINLEC) though it can exceed 185 inches (4,700 mm) (See Reid, Collins and Associates, 1994).

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
St Vincent Amazon Amazona guildingii resident  2004  142 individuals  medium  A1, A2  Vulnerable 
Lesser Antillean Swift Chaetura martinica resident  2006  present [units unknown]  -  A2  Least Concern 
Purple-throated Carib Eulampis jugularis resident  2006  present [units unknown]  -  A2  Least Concern 
Green-throated Carib Eulampis holosericeus resident  2006  present [units unknown]  -  A2  Least Concern 
Antillean Crested Hummingbird Orthorhyncus cristatus resident  2006  present [units unknown]  -  A2  Least Concern 
Caribbean Elaenia Elaenia martinica resident  2006  present [units unknown]  -  A2  Least Concern 
Grenada Flycatcher Myiarchus nugator resident  2006  present [units unknown]  -  A2  Least Concern 
Scaly-breasted Thrasher Margarops fuscus resident  2006  present [units unknown]  -  A2  Least Concern 
Brown Trembler Cinclocerthia ruficauda resident  2006  present [units unknown]  -  A2  Least Concern 
Rufous-throated Solitaire Myadestes genibarbis resident  2006  present [units unknown]  -  A2  Least Concern 
Whistling Warbler Catharopeza bishopi resident  2006  present [units unknown]  -  A1, A2  Endangered 
Lesser Antillean Bullfinch Loxigilla noctis resident  2006  present [units unknown]  -  A2  Least Concern 
Lesser Antillean Tanager Tangara cucullata resident  2006  present [units unknown]  -  A2  Least Concern 
Antillean Euphonia Euphonia musica resident  2006  present [units unknown]  -  A2  Least Concern 

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
Colonarie Forest Reserve 0 is identical to site 1,556  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Forest   -

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
agriculture -
water management -
nature conservation and research -

Other biodiversity Endemic herpetofauna A. griseus, C. vincenti, A. griseus and A. trinitatus; endemic sub-species M. bruesi and endemic flora A. vincentiana, B. rotundifolia, P. cuneata, P. vincentiana, E. vincentinum, C. vincentiana and C. tenera.

Management considerations Conservation concerns consist of lack of riparian buffers, deforestation that causes disturbance to wildlife and habitat, erosion of soils leading to slope instability and sedimentation of streams, tree harvesting for charcoal and agriculture on steep slopes, which accelerates erosion. Squatting, involving the use of makeshift shelters and storage buildings particularly for agricultural purposes (storage buildings), is another concern. It is possible that these may eventually lead to more permanent structures within the Reserve (see also Reid, Collins and Associates, 1994). River poisoning to harvest crayfish during the Easter period is a common practice in nearby communities. It causes death of many aquatic fauna, and possibly associated avian species.

Protection status Proposed Forest Reserve (under the SPAHS) and part of the proposed Central Forest Reserve (SPAHS) and part of the proposed Central Reserve (SPAHS).

Further web sources of information 

Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE) species/site profile. This site has been identified as an AZE due to it containing a Critically Endangered or Endangered species with a limited range.

Click here for more information about the Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE)

Site profile from Important Bird Areas in the Caribbean: key sites for conservation (BirdLife International 2008)

References Forestry Department. 2004; Ivor Jackson and Associates. 2004; Reid, Collins and Associates. 1994

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Colonarie Forest Reserve. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 22/05/2013

To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife