In 2010, for the International Year of Biodiversity, the UK
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), has
funded a series of invasive species projects across the UK Overseas
Territories. This has been coordinated by the Joint Nature
Conservation Committee. Project activities on Montserrat will
be:
One of the Leeward Islands in the Eastern Caribbean, lying 43 km
southwest of Antigua and 64 km northwest of Guadeloupe.
Size
The island is 18 km long and 11 km wide, with a total area of
101 sq km.
Climate and Climate Change
Tropical climate.JNCC has prepared a series of outreach
materials which give a general background to climate change and
includes territory specific information on climate
change impacts.
Topography
Entirely volcanic and very mountainous. The coastline is rugged
and offers no all-weather harbour, although there are several
anchorages in the lee of the island sheltered from the prevailing
trade winds. In 1995, the Soufriere Hills volcano in the south of
the island became active for the first time in 350 years. The
volcano has remained active since then with pyroclastic flows, a
collapse of the dome in 2003 and renewed dome growth. Since
April 2007, growth of the current volcanic dome has slowed and the
latest scientific advice is that the volcano is in a state of
‘pause’, but with the danger of a large hot dome
remaining.
Biodiversity
Despite its small size, Montserrat supports at least 795 native
plant species, 12 restricted range species of birds and 1,241
invertebrates, which include 718 beetles. Endemic to Montserrat are
the Montserrat Oriole (Icteris oberis) and galliwasp (Diploglossus
montisserrati). The endangered and edible 'mountain chicken'
(Leptodactylus fallax) (a frog) is found only on Montserrat
and Dominica. Several other species are restricted to Montserrat
and some nearby islands.
Main economic activities
The limited economic activity on the island includes mining and
quarrying, construction, financial and professional services and
tourism
Other information
Population - 4,655 (2006 estimate).