Massif de la Hotte
Encyclopedia
The Massif de la Hotte is a mountain range in southwestern Haiti
, on the far-western end of the Tiburon Peninsula. The region is relatively remote and is one of the most biologically diverse and significant areas of all of Hispaniola
. It also supports some of the last stands of Haiti's dense cloud forest
on its peaks. About 2.5 million years ago, the Massif de la Hotte was separated from the rest of the country by a deep, wide sea channel, which resulted in a hotbed of endemism in its bird, plant, and reptile communities.
Haiti has a World Heritage site
located here. In the wake of the 2010 Haiti earthquake
, UNESCO
's World Heritage Program
is helping Haiti assess the damage.
; Haiti's second highest peak, the Massif's high and fluctuating elevations supports some of Hispaniola’s highest levels of biological diversity and endemism. Much of the region lies within the Pic Macaya National Park
.
Conservation International
recognizes the region as one of the most conservation-urgent in the world in which 13 of Hispaniola's most critically endangered species (all amphibians) occur.. One of the most critically endangered frog species are Eleutherodactylus chlorophenax
and Eleutherodactylus parapelates
, two frog species endemic solely to Haiti. The Hispaniolan Trogon
has a recognized presence in the region.
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
, on the far-western end of the Tiburon Peninsula. The region is relatively remote and is one of the most biologically diverse and significant areas of all of Hispaniola
Hispaniola
Hispaniola is a major island in the Caribbean, containing the two sovereign states of the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The island is located between the islands of Cuba to the west and Puerto Rico to the east, within the hurricane belt...
. It also supports some of the last stands of Haiti's dense cloud forest
Cloud forest
A cloud forest, also called a fog forest, is a generally tropical or subtropical evergreen montane moist forest characterized by a persistent, frequent or seasonal low-level cloud cover, usually at the canopy level. Cloud forests often exhibit an abundance of mosses covering the ground and...
on its peaks. About 2.5 million years ago, the Massif de la Hotte was separated from the rest of the country by a deep, wide sea channel, which resulted in a hotbed of endemism in its bird, plant, and reptile communities.
Haiti has a World Heritage site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
located here. In the wake of the 2010 Haiti earthquake
2010 Haiti earthquake
The 2010 Haiti earthquake was a catastrophic magnitude 7.0 Mw earthquake, with an epicentre near the town of Léogâne, approximately west of Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital. The earthquake occurred at 16:53 local time on Tuesday, 12 January 2010.By 24 January, at least 52 aftershocks...
, UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
's World Heritage Program
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
is helping Haiti assess the damage.
Biodiversity & Conservation
Most of the island's endemic species exist within the 'de la Hotte Biosphere.' Rising to a peak level of approximately 7700 ft (2347 m) in Pic MacayaPic Macaya
Pic Macaya is the second highest mountain in Haiti and the fifth highest in the Caribbean, rising to an elevation of 2,347 meters above sea level.The mountain is located in the Pic Macaya National Park....
; Haiti's second highest peak, the Massif's high and fluctuating elevations supports some of Hispaniola’s highest levels of biological diversity and endemism. Much of the region lies within the Pic Macaya National Park
Pic Macaya National Park
Parc National Pic Macaya is one of two national parks of the Republic of Haiti. It is located in the southern part of the country, and features the country's last stand of virgin cloud forest...
.
Conservation International
Conservation International
Conservation International is a nonprofit organization headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, which seeks to ensure the health of humanity by protecting Earth's ecosystems and biodiversity. CI’s work focuses on six key initiatives that affect human well-being: climate, food security, freshwater...
recognizes the region as one of the most conservation-urgent in the world in which 13 of Hispaniola's most critically endangered species (all amphibians) occur.. One of the most critically endangered frog species are Eleutherodactylus chlorophenax
Eleutherodactylus chlorophenax
Eleutherodactylus chlorophenax, also known as False Green Robber Frog, is a species of frog in the Leptodactylidae family.It is endemic to Haiti....
and Eleutherodactylus parapelates
Eleutherodactylus parapelates
Eleutherodactylus parapelates is a species of frog in the Leptodactylidae family.It is endemic to Haiti.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montanes.It is threatened by habitat loss....
, two frog species endemic solely to Haiti. The Hispaniolan Trogon
Hispaniolan Trogon
The Hispaniolan Trogon is a species of bird in the Trogonidae family. It is the national bird of Haiti. It is found on the island of Hispaniola shared by Haiti and the neighboring Dominican Republic. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests and what is now heavily...
has a recognized presence in the region.
See also
- Geography of Haiti
- Protected areaProtected areaProtected areas are locations which receive protection because of their recognised natural, ecological and/or cultural values. There are several kinds of protected areas, which vary by level of protection depending on the enabling laws of each country or the regulations of the international...
- Mountain rangeMountain rangeA mountain range is a single, large mass consisting of a succession of mountains or narrowly spaced mountain ridges, with or without peaks, closely related in position, direction, formation, and age; a component part of a mountain system or of a mountain chain...
- World Conservation Monitoring CentreWorld Conservation Monitoring CentreThe United Nations Environment Programme's World Conservation Monitoring Centre is an executive agency of the United Nations Environment Programme, based in Cambridge in the United Kingdom. UNEP-WCMC has been part of UNEP since 2000, and has responsibility for biodiversity assessment and support...