Lush, lIVING LANDSCAPES
The Bahamian Pinelands
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Tropical coniferous forests, characterized by the dominance of pine trees, are a subtype of dry forest found in The Bahamas. The Caribbean Pine is the sole pine species in the archipelago, with an endemic subspecies (Pinus caribaea bahamensis) residing on four islands in the northern Bahamas (Abaco, Grand Bahama, New Providence, and Andros) and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Genetic research indicates that Caribbean Pine in the Caribbean resulted from two colonization events from Central America, leading to Cuban and Bahamian subspecies. The Pinelands are the dominant plant community on the Northern Bahama islands. It is estimated that 1,388 km² of pine forest currently remains on Andros, the largest pine island.
Pineland ecosystem
Natural disturbances, however, has had a significant impact on the Bahamian pineland ecosystem. Grand Bahama in particular has experienced severe devastation of its Pine forests as the ecosystem have been impacted by Hurricanes Jeanne (2004), Frances (2004), Wilma (2005) and Dorian (2019). Prior to these hurricanes the Pineland community covered an estimated area of 552.6 km² on Grand Bahama. Between 2004 to 2020 Grand Bahama is believed to have lost an estimated 90.9% of its Pine forests.
Historically, the dominance of Pinelands in the northern islands was not constant. Before the arrival of Lucayans on Abaco in 830 CE, the Bahamian dry forest prevailed on the island. The influence of the Lucayans led to the expansion of Pinelands, facilitating an increase in pineland specialists like the Bahama Warbler, Olive-Capped Warbler, and Bahama Swallow.
The Bahamian Pinelands constitute a fire-dependent ecosystem, requiring periodic fires for maintenance. Fires prevent broad-leafed plants from outcompeting pine trees for resources. Excessive fires, however, may lead to pine seedling mortality, allowing bracken fern to dominate the understory, reducing plant and animal diversity.​
Dry Forests​​
Dry (Coppice) Forest Ecosystem
Canopy of Dry (Coppice) Forest Ecosystem
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In The Bahamas, coppice forests can be divided into two general categories: Blackland Coppice and Whiteland Coppice. The Blackland Coppice can be found primarily in the interior of Bahama Islands and has a denser canopy and darker, more humus-rich substrate. It also tends to support a higher botanical species diversity. The Whiteland Coppice, also known as Coastal Coppice, is found near the coastal areas of our islands, and its substrate is more sandy, with a more open canopy. Hundreds of native plant species inhabit the coppice ecosystem. Dominant species include Pigeon Plum (Coccoloba diversifolia), Gum Elemi (Bursera simaruba), and Poisonwood (Metopium toxiferum). Other commonly found species include False Mastic (Sideroxylon foetidissimum), Lancewood (Ocotea coriacea), West Indian Mahogany (Swietenia mahagoni), Inkwood (Exostema paniculata), and Beefwood (Guapira obtusata). Click here to learn more about plants found in The Bahamas. These fruit-bearing plants support a wide variety of bird species such as the White-crowned Pigeon (Patagioenas leucocephala), Bahama Parrot (Amazona leucocephala bahamensis), Bananaquit (Coereba flaveola bahamensis), and Bahama Mockingbird (Mimus gundlachii). Reptiles, including Anole lizards, Bahamian snakes, and Cuban Whiptails (Pholidoscelis spp.), also inhabit these forests, alongside a rich diversity of arthropods.
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Tropical Dry Forests are among the most important forest types on Earth, with more than half occurring in the Americas—primarily in South America and the West Indies. The Bahamian Dry Forest, locally known as the coppice or “the bush,” is part of this biome and dominates much of the Bahamian archipelago. Depending on the specific island or cay, this forest varies in height from over 8 meters (26ft) to less than 3 meters (10ft).
Endemic reptiles such as the Bahama Anole (Anolis oligaspis), Bahama Green Anole (A. smaragdinus), Bahama Boa (Chilabothrus strigilatus), Silver Boa (C. argentum), Crooked-Acklins Boa (C. schwartzi), Bahamian Rock Iguanas (Cyclura spp.), and the Bahama Trope (Tropidophis curtus) are found here, as well as the endemic Bahama Flat-headed Frog (Eleutherodactylus rogersi).
These dry forests also contain microhabitats that support unique invertebrate life, including various species of spiders, ants, beetles, and fungi. Undisturbed forests may host distinct plant communities with high concentrations of bromeliads, orchids, lichens, and certain ferns and mosses.
The Bahamian Dry Forest is deeply embedded in Bahamian culture, influencing folktales, traditional woodwork, and bush medicine. Many Bahamians recall “rambling tru duh bush” as children—catching crabs, collecting Thatch Palm leaves for weaving straw baskets, and eating fruit from Pigeon Plum trees.
Forest view looking up
Mangrove Forests
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Mangrove ecosystems, exclusive to tropical and sub-tropical coastal wetland regions globally, represent highly productive ecosystems situated at the intertidal zones of deltas, creeks, estuaries, and mudflats. The extant total area of mangrove forests on Earth remains a subject of estimation, with figures ranging from 1,81,000 km² to less than 150,000 km². A study published in 2011 asserted that 26% of the world's mangrove forests are located in the Americas.
According to the Convention on Biological Diversity, The Bahamas encompasses 4,286 km² of mangrove forest, playing a pivotal role as habitat for a diverse array of animal species. Furthermore, this ecosystem serves as a carbon sink, nursery, water sink, storm surge buffer, and rookery for numerous bird species. Notably, the White-crowned Pigeons, essential seed dispersers in The Bahamas, utilize mangrove ecosystems for breeding, forming nesting colonies comprising hundreds of birds.
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Red mangrove forest
Aerial roots of the Red mangrove
The Bahamian mangrove habitat comprises three mangrove species and the Buttonwood plant, often grouped with mangroves. These plants dominate intertidal coastal ecosystems. The sulfur-rich sediment supporting mangroves harbors anaerobic bacteria facilitating organic matter decomposition through sulfate reduction, contributing to the characteristic "fart" smell of mangrove ecosystems. Additionally, bacteria within this ecosystem produce the enzyme L-asparaginase, which is used in treating acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Regrettably, anthropogenic disturbances have led to the loss of over 35% of the world's mangrove ecosystems in the past two decades. Coastal development, aquaculture, climate change, and nutrient over-enrichment from agricultural, sewage, and other sources contribute to this decline.
Forests and Climate Change
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In wildlife biology, climate change presents an ongoing threat to both human societies and wildlife, highlighting the urgent need for forest conservation. Research shows that higher COâ‚‚ levels boost forest photosynthesis, leading to a 12–76% increase in Net Primary Production (NPP). Similarly, long-term studies indicate that a sustained 50% rise in atmospheric COâ‚‚ can result in a 23% increase in NPP. However, the long-term effects of these changes remain uncertain and warrant caution.
Scrubland
Forests help mitigate human-induced climate change through their albedo effect, evapotranspiration, and carbon cycling. However, ongoing conversion of forests into housing, resorts, and industrial areas weakens their ability to regulate climate. This loss makes remaining forests more vulnerable to drought, invasive species, and less effective in sustaining rainfall patterns. In the face of climate change, protecting forests is essential for preserving biodiversity and supporting ecological resilience.
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The designation of protected areas plays an integral role in safeguarding vulnerable ecosystems like the pine, coppice and mangrove forests. The Government of The Bahamas have come to recognised the importance of protect areas and working with NGOs such as The Bahamas National Trust, our country has been leading the charge in protected area designation for both marine and terrestrial ecosystems in the West Indies. Presently the Bahamas National Trust primarily manages 33 National Parks spanning over 2.2 million acres of land and sea throughout the archipelago. Click here to learn more about National Parks in The Bahamas.
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resources
Antalffy, J.M., 2022. Conservation Biology of an Endemic Songbird and Its Primary Breeding Habitat: An Investigation into Habitat Availability, Impacts of Climate Change, and Conservation Genetics of the Endangered Bahama Oriole (Doctoral dissertation, University of Maryland, Baltimore County).
Bonan, G.B., 2008. Forests and climate change: forcings, feedbacks, and the climate benefits of forests. science, 320(5882), pp.1444-1449.
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Fall, P.L., van Hengstum, P.J., Lavold-Foote, L., Donnelly, J.P., Albury, N.A. and Tamalavage, A.E., 2021. Human arrival and landscape dynamics in the northern Bahamas. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 118(10), p.e2015764118.
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Giri, C., Ochieng, E., Tieszen, L.L., Zhu, Z., Singh, A., Loveland, T., Masek, J. and Duke, N., 2011. Status and distribution of mangrove forests of the world using earth observation satellite data. Global ecology and biogeography, 20(1), pp.154-159.
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Jardón-Barbolla, L., Delgado-Valerio, P., Geada-López, G., Vázquez-Lobo, A. and Pinero, D., 2011. Phylogeography of Pinus subsection Australes in the Caribbean basin. Annals of Botany, 107(2), pp.229-241.
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Wright, S.J., 2005. Tropical forests in a changing environment. Trends in ecology & evolution, 20(10), pp.553-560.
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Wright, S.J., 2010. The future of tropical forests. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1195(1), pp.1-27.
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McKenzie, Z., Kumler, M.P., Ma, R., Williams, K. and Hayes, W.K., 2023. Eyes from the sky: application of satellite-based indices to assess vegetation casualty on Grand Bahama Island one year post-Hurricane Dorian. Remote Sensing Applications: Society and Environment, 32, p.101044.
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Valiela, Ivan, Jennifer L. Bowen, and Joanna K. York. "Mangrove Forests: One of the World's Threatened Major Tropical Environments: At least 35% of the area of mangrove forests has been lost in the past two decades, losses that exceed those for tropical rain forests and coral reefs, two other well-known threatened environments." Bioscience 51, no. 10 (2001): 807-815.
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