Guadeloupe National Park
Encyclopedia
Guadeloupe National Park is a national park
in Guadeloupe
, an overseas department of France
located in the Leeward Islands
of the eastern Caribbean
region. The Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin Nature Reserve (French: Réserve Naturelle du Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin) is a marine protected area
adjacent to the park and administered in conjunction with it. Together, these protected area
s comprise the Guadeloupe Archipelago (French: l'Archipel de la Guadeloupe) biosphere reserve
.
of Basse-Terre's
tropical forest and mountain massif. Although it was initially placed under the management of the National Forests Office, proposals emerged in 1977 to establish a national park
, in order to improve management and control of the park lands. These proposals came to fruition on 20 February 1989 with the official establishment of Guadeloupe National Park.
The Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin Nature Reserve was established in 1987, and subsequently placed under the management of the park.
In 1992, Guadeloupe National Park achieved international recognition when the core area of the park and the Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin Nature Reserve were designated as an international biosphere reserve by UNESCO
.
For most of its history, it was the only French national park outside of metropolitan France. However, it lost that distinction with the 2007 creation of Réunion National Park
(Réunion
) and Guiana Amazonian Park
(French Guiana
).
The core area encompasses 10% of the total territory of Guadeloupe, two-thirds of Basse-Terre's tropical forest
, and covers a range of elevations from approximately 250 metres (820.2 ft) to the summit of the mountain massif at 1467 metres (4,813 ft). The highest point in the park is the summit of La Soufrière
, an active volcano
. Other notable peaks include: Échelle (1397 m (4,583.3 ft)), Grand-Sans-Toucher (1354 m (4,442.3 ft)), and the twin side-by-side summits of the Mamelles (768 m (2,519.7 ft)).
The park comprises parts of 11 communes
:
varies in its character and species among several sub-ecosystems, depending heavily on elevation.
and pear
.
forests that are flooded either permanently or intermittently by fresh or salt water, comprising nearly half of Guadeloupe's mangrove
swamps (37 square kilometres (9,142.9 acre) of 80 square kilometres (19,768.4 acre)).
during an earlier period in Guadeloupe's history, animal life in the park is limited in diversity and in populations. Some species, including parrot
s and parakeet
s, have been eradicated altogether.
s in the park are the Guadeloupe raccoon
, bat
s (two species of which are endemic to Guadeloupe), mongoose
s (introduced from India
), and the endangered agouti
.
s are more numerous than mammals, and the visitor may encounter hummingbird
s, frigatebird
s, thrushes
, partridge
s, pigeons, tyrant flycatcher
s, pelican
s, endemic Guadeloupe woodpeckers
, and others.
s.
s are indubitably the most plentiful creatures in the park, their exceptional diversity resulting in a number of surprising forms. Some attain great size, such as Hercules beetle
s, the duppy bats (black witch moths)
, and walking sticks
.
Among the interesting visitor sites in Guadeloupe National Park are:
National park
A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or owns. Although individual nations designate their own national parks differently A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or...
in Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe is an archipelago located in the Leeward Islands, in the Lesser Antilles, with a land area of 1,628 square kilometres and a population of 400,000. It is the first overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. As with the other overseas departments, Guadeloupe...
, an overseas department of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
located in the Leeward Islands
Leeward Islands
The Leeward Islands are a group of islands in the West Indies. They are the northern islands of the Lesser Antilles chain. As a group they start east of Puerto Rico and reach southward to Dominica. They are situated where the northeastern Caribbean Sea meets the western Atlantic Ocean...
of the eastern Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
region. The Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin Nature Reserve (French: Réserve Naturelle du Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin) is a marine protected area
Marine Protected Area
Marine Protected Areas, like any protected area, are regions in which human activity has been placed under some restrictions in the interest of conserving the natural environment, it's surrounding waters and the occupant ecosystems, and any cultural or historical resources that may require...
adjacent to the park and administered in conjunction with it. Together, these protected area
Protected area
Protected 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...
s comprise the Guadeloupe Archipelago (French: l'Archipel de la Guadeloupe) biosphere reserve
Biosphere reserve
The Man and the Biosphere Programme of UNESCO was established in 1971 to promote interdisciplinary approaches to management, research and education in ecosystem conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.-Development:...
.
History
The General Council of Guadeloupe created the Guadeloupe Natural Park in 1970 to recognize the exceptional biodiversityBiodiversity
Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet. Biodiversity is a measure of the health of ecosystems. Biodiversity is in part a function of climate. In terrestrial habitats, tropical regions are typically rich whereas polar regions...
of Basse-Terre's
Basse-Terre Island
Basse-Terre Island is the name of the western-half of Guadeloupe proper, in the Lesser Antilles. It is separated from the other half of Guadeloupe proper, Grande-Terre, by a narrow sea channel called the Rivière Salée ....
tropical forest and mountain massif. Although it was initially placed under the management of the National Forests Office, proposals emerged in 1977 to establish a national park
National park
A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or owns. Although individual nations designate their own national parks differently A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or...
, in order to improve management and control of the park lands. These proposals came to fruition on 20 February 1989 with the official establishment of Guadeloupe National Park.
The Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin Nature Reserve was established in 1987, and subsequently placed under the management of the park.
In 1992, Guadeloupe National Park achieved international recognition when the core area of the park and the Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin Nature Reserve were designated as an international biosphere reserve by UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
.
For most of its history, it was the only French national park outside of metropolitan France. However, it lost that distinction with the 2007 creation of Réunion National Park
Réunion National Park
Réunion National Park is a national park on the island of Réunion, an overseas department of France located in the western Indian Ocean region. Established on 5 March 2007, the park protects the endemic ecosystems of Les Hauts, Réunion's mountainous interior.-Planning for the park:Proposals to...
(Réunion
Réunion
Réunion is a French island with a population of about 800,000 located in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar, about south west of Mauritius, the nearest island.Administratively, Réunion is one of the overseas departments of France...
) and Guiana Amazonian Park
Guiana Amazonian Park
Guiana Amazonian Park is one of the nine national parks of France, aiming at protecting part of the amazonian forest located in French Guiana...
(French Guiana
French Guiana
French Guiana is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department located on the northern Atlantic coast of South America. It has borders with two nations, Brazil to the east and south, and Suriname to the west...
).
Geography
The boundaries of the national park encompass a core area of 173 square kilometres (42,749.2 acre), and a buffer zone of 162 square kilometres (40,031 acre). The Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin Nature Reserve comprises 21 square kilometres (5,189.2 acre) marine, and 16 square kilometres (3,953.7 acre) terrestrial.The core area encompasses 10% of the total territory of Guadeloupe, two-thirds of Basse-Terre's tropical forest
Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests
Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests , also known as tropical moist forests, are a tropical and subtropical forest biome....
, and covers a range of elevations from approximately 250 metres (820.2 ft) to the summit of the mountain massif at 1467 metres (4,813 ft). The highest point in the park is the summit of La Soufrière
La Grande Soufrière
La Grande Soufrière, , is an active stratovolcano located on the French island of Basse-Terre, in Guadeloupe. It is the tallest mountain in the Lesser Antilles, and rises 1,467 m high....
, an active volcano
Volcano
2. Bedrock3. Conduit 4. Base5. Sill6. Dike7. Layers of ash emitted by the volcano8. Flank| 9. Layers of lava emitted by the volcano10. Throat11. Parasitic cone12. Lava flow13. Vent14. Crater15...
. Other notable peaks include: Échelle (1397 m (4,583.3 ft)), Grand-Sans-Toucher (1354 m (4,442.3 ft)), and the twin side-by-side summits of the Mamelles (768 m (2,519.7 ft)).
The park comprises parts of 11 communes
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
:
- Vieux-HabitantsVieux-HabitantsVieux-Habitants is a commune on Guadeloupe, a French overseas department in the Caribbean. It is located on the southwest coast of the island of Basse-Terre. It is the home of football club JS Vieux-Habitants, who are the reigning champions of the Guadeloupe Division d'Honneur.-References:*...
- BouillanteBouillanteBouillante is a commune in the French overseas region and department of Guadeloupe, in the Lesser Antilles.-History:Bouillante was founded about 1635 with the arrival of some of Guadeloupe's first colonists...
- Pointe-NoirePointe-Noire, GuadeloupePointe-Noire is a commune on Guadeloupe, a French overseas department in the Caribbean. It is located on the northwest coast of the island of Basse-Terre.-References:*...
- LamentinLamentinSee Le Lamentin for the commune of MartiniqueLamentin is a French commune in the overseas department of Guadeloupe. It is part of the agglomeration of Pointe-à-Pitre, in the north part of Basse-Terre...
- Petit-BourgPetit-BourgPetit-Bourg is the seventh-largest commune in the French overseas department of Guadeloupe. It is located on the east side of the island of Basse-Terre, and is part of the metropolitan area of Pointe-à-Pitre, the largest metropolitan area in Guadeloupe....
- GoyaveGoyaveGoyave is a commune in the French overseas region and department of Guadeloupe, in the Lesser Antilles. It is part of the urban area of Pointe-à-Pitre, the largest metropolitan area in Guadeloupe.-History:...
- Capesterre-Belle-EauCapesterre-Belle-EauCapesterre-Belle-Eau is a commune in the French overseas region and department of Guadeloupe, in the Lesser Antilles. It is located in the south-east of Basse-Terre Island. Capesterre-Belle-Eau covers an area of 103.3 km² and the population as of 1999 is 19,568. The population density is 189...
- Trois-RivièresTrois-Rivières, GuadeloupeTrois-Rivières is a commune in the overseas department of Guadeloupe, and the chef-lieu of the Canton of Trois-Rivières. It is on the south coast of the island of Basse-Terre.-External links:* ....
- GourbeyreGourbeyreGourbeyre is a commune in the French overseas region and department of Guadeloupe, in the Lesser Antilles. It is a suburb of the city of Basse-Terre.The commune of Gourbeyre was in the past a pivotal point in the defense of Guadeloupe's Basse-Terre Island....
- Saint-ClaudeSaint-Claude, GuadeloupeSaint-Claude is a French commune in the overseas department of Guadeloupe. It lies in the interior of southern Basse-Terre island, just northeast of the capital city of Basse-Terre.-References:*...
- BaillifBaillifBaillif is a commune of Guadeloupe, an overseas region and department of France located in the Lesser Antilles. Baillif is a suburb of Basse-Terre, the prefecture and second largest urban area of Guadeloupe located on Basse-Terre Island .The inhabitants are called Baillifiens.-History:In 1637,...
Tropical rainforest
The park's tropical rainforestTropical rainforest
A tropical rainforest is an ecosystem type that occurs roughly within the latitudes 28 degrees north or south of the equator . This ecosystem experiences high average temperatures and a significant amount of rainfall...
varies in its character and species among several sub-ecosystems, depending heavily on elevation.
- The lower elevations (up to 500 m (1,640.4 ft)) of the park's buffer zone support a mesophilicMesophileA mesophile is an organism that grows best in moderate temperature, neither too hot nor too cold, typically between 25 and 40 °C...
forest, featuring trees such as white and red mahoganyMahoganyThe name mahogany is used when referring to numerous varieties of dark-colored hardwood. It is a native American word originally used for the wood of the species Swietenia mahagoni, known as West Indian or Cuban mahogany....
, rosewood, and jatobáJatobáHymenaea courbaril is a tree common to the Caribbean, Central, and South America. It is a hardwood that is used for furniture, flooring and decorative purposes....
. This ecologic area is also used for agricultureAgricultureAgriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
, including banana plantationPlantationA plantation is a long artificially established forest, farm or estate, where crops are grown for sale, often in distant markets rather than for local on-site consumption...
s and other food crops. - A montaneMontaneIn biogeography, montane is the highland area located below the subalpine zone. Montane regions generally have cooler temperatures and often have higher rainfall than the adjacent lowland regions, and are frequently home to distinct communities of plants and animals.The term "montane" means "of the...
moist forest covers 80% of the core area of the park, at elevations between 300 m (984.3 ft) and 1000 m (3,280.8 ft). This dense and luxuriant ecosystem harbors a great diversity of plant species: very large trees that grow above 30 m (98.4 ft) (tabonucoDacryodes excelsaDacryodes excelsa is a tree of the Caribbean region. Its vernacular names include tabonuco, gommier, and candlewood....
, acomat boucan, chestnutChestnutChestnut , some species called chinkapin or chinquapin, is a genus of eight or nine species of deciduous trees and shrubs in the beech family Fagaceae, native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. The name also refers to the edible nuts they produce.-Species:The chestnut belongs to the...
); mid-level trees between 6 m (19.7 ft) and 10 m (32.8 ft) (bois bandéBois bandeRicheria grandis is a tree in the family Euphorbiaceae that grows in the Caribbean Islands. Its bark is known as bois bandé. It is steeped in high proof liquor for several weeks and then consumed.-External links:***...
, oleanderOleanderNerium oleander is an evergreen shrub or small tree in the dogbane family Apocynaceae, toxic in all its parts. It is the only species currently classified in the genus Nerium. It is most commonly known as oleander, from its superficial resemblance to the unrelated olive Olea, but has many other...
); shrubs and herbaceous plants below 10 m (mountain palm, heliconiaHeliconiaHeliconia, derived from the Greek word helikonios, is a genus of about 100 to 200 species of flowering plants native to the tropical Americas and the Pacific Ocean islands west to Indonesia. Many species of Heliconia are found in rainforests or tropical wet forests of these regions...
, fernFernA fern is any one of a group of about 12,000 species of plants belonging to the botanical group known as Pteridophyta. Unlike mosses, they have xylem and phloem . They have stems, leaves, and roots like other vascular plants...
s); and epiphyticEpiphyteAn epiphyte is a plant that grows upon another plant non-parasitically or sometimes upon some other object , derives its moisture and nutrients from the air and rain and sometimes from debris accumulating around it, and is found in the temperate zone and in the...
species (giant philodendronPhilodendronPhilodendron is a large genus of flowering plants in the Araceae family, consisting of close to 900 or more species according to TROPICOS . Other sources quote different numbers of species. According to S.J. Mayo there are about 350-400 formally recognized species whereas according to Croat there...
, aile-à-mouche, orchidsOrchidaceaeThe Orchidaceae, commonly referred to as the orchid family, is a morphologically diverse and widespread family of monocots in the order Asparagales. Along with the Asteraceae, it is one of the two largest families of flowering plants, with between 21,950 and 26,049 currently accepted species,...
). - The high-elevation forests above 1000 m (3,280.8 ft) are much less dense than the park's other forests, due to the extremely wet conditions and constant cloud cover. These forests resemble savannaSavannaA savanna, or savannah, is a grassland ecosystem characterized by the trees being sufficiently small or widely spaced so that the canopy does not close. The open canopy allows sufficient light to reach the ground to support an unbroken herbaceous layer consisting primarily of C4 grasses.Some...
s.
Coastal forest
Vegetation in the coastal zone faces the challenges of salinity in the air and soil, intense heat from the sun and its drying effect, and the constant wind. Notable plant species in this environment include seagrapeCoccoloba uvifera
Coccoloba uvifera is a species of flowering plant in the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae, that is native to coastal beaches throughout tropical America and the Caribbean, including southern Florida, the Bahamas, Barbados and Bermuda...
and pear
Pear
The pear is any of several tree species of genus Pyrus and also the name of the pomaceous fruit of these trees. Several species of pear are valued by humans for their edible fruit, but the fruit of other species is small, hard, and astringent....
.
Mangrove
The Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin Nature Reserve includes coastal wetlandWetland
A wetland is an area of land whose soil is saturated with water either permanently or seasonally. Wetlands are categorised by their characteristic vegetation, which is adapted to these unique soil conditions....
forests that are flooded either permanently or intermittently by fresh or salt water, comprising nearly half of Guadeloupe's mangrove
Mangrove
Mangroves are various kinds of trees up to medium height and shrubs that grow in saline coastal sediment habitats in the tropics and subtropics – mainly between latitudes N and S...
swamps (37 square kilometres (9,142.9 acre) of 80 square kilometres (19,768.4 acre)).
Wildlife
Due to intensive huntingHunting
Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
during an earlier period in Guadeloupe's history, animal life in the park is limited in diversity and in populations. Some species, including parrot
Parrot
Parrots, also known as psittacines , are birds of the roughly 372 species in 86 genera that make up the order Psittaciformes, found in most tropical and subtropical regions. The order is subdivided into three families: the Psittacidae , the Cacatuidae and the Strigopidae...
s and parakeet
Parakeet
Parakeet is a term for any one of a large number of unrelated small to medium sized species of parrot, that generally have long tail feathers...
s, have been eradicated altogether.
Mammals
The most commonly seen mammalMammal
Mammals are members of a class of air-breathing vertebrate animals characterised by the possession of endothermy, hair, three middle ear bones, and mammary glands functional in mothers with young...
s in the park are the Guadeloupe raccoon
Guadeloupe Raccoon
The Guadeloupe raccoon is a subspecies of the common raccoon endemic on the two main islands Basse-Terre Island and Grande-Terre of Guadeloupe in the Lesser Antilles.- Classification :...
, bat
Bat
Bats are mammals of the order Chiroptera "hand" and pteron "wing") whose forelimbs form webbed wings, making them the only mammals naturally capable of true and sustained flight. By contrast, other mammals said to fly, such as flying squirrels, gliding possums, and colugos, glide rather than fly,...
s (two species of which are endemic to Guadeloupe), mongoose
Mongoose
Mongoose are a family of 33 living species of small carnivorans from southern Eurasia and mainland Africa. Four additional species from Madagascar in the subfamily Galidiinae, which were previously classified in this family, are also referred to as "mongooses" or "mongoose-like"...
s (introduced from India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
), and the endangered agouti
Common agouti
The popular term Agouti designates several rodent species of the genus Dasyprocta that inhabit areas of Middle America, the West Indies, and northern South America. They are related to guinea pigs and look quite similar but have longer legs. The species vary in color from tawny to dark brown with...
.
Birds
BirdBird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
s are more numerous than mammals, and the visitor may encounter hummingbird
Hummingbird
Hummingbirds are birds that comprise the family Trochilidae. They are among the smallest of birds, most species measuring in the 7.5–13 cm range. Indeed, the smallest extant bird species is a hummingbird, the 5-cm Bee Hummingbird. They can hover in mid-air by rapidly flapping their wings...
s, frigatebird
Frigatebird
The frigatebirds are a family, Fregatidae, of seabirds. There are five species in the single genus Fregata. They are also sometimes called Man of War birds or Pirate birds. Since they are related to the pelicans, the term "frigate pelican" is also a name applied to them...
s, thrushes
Thrush (bird)
The thrushes, family Turdidae, are a group of passerine birds that occur worldwide.-Characteristics:Thrushes are plump, soft-plumaged, small to medium-sized birds, inhabiting wooded areas, and often feed on the ground or eat small fruit. The smallest thrush may be the Forest Rock-thrush, at and...
, partridge
Partridge
Partridges are birds in the pheasant family, Phasianidae. They are a non-migratory Old World group.These are medium-sized birds, intermediate between the larger pheasants and the smaller quails. Partridges are native to Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East...
s, pigeons, tyrant flycatcher
Tyrant flycatcher
The tyrant flycatchers are a family of passerine birds which occur throughout North and South America. They are considered the largest family of birds on Earth, with more than 400 species. They are the most diverse avian family in every country in the Americas, except for the United States and...
s, pelican
Pelican
A pelican, derived from the Greek word πελεκυς pelekys is a large water bird with a large throat pouch, belonging to the bird family Pelecanidae....
s, endemic Guadeloupe woodpeckers
Guadeloupe Woodpecker
The Guadeloupe Woodpecker is a species of bird in the Picidae family.It is endemic to Guadeloupe.-Habitat:...
, and others.
Crustaceans
Aquatic and marine life includes big-claw river shrimp and crabCrab
True crabs are decapod crustaceans of the infraorder Brachyura, which typically have a very short projecting "tail" , or where the reduced abdomen is entirely hidden under the thorax...
s.
Insects
InsectInsect
Insects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...
s are indubitably the most plentiful creatures in the park, their exceptional diversity resulting in a number of surprising forms. Some attain great size, such as Hercules beetle
Hercules beetle
The Hercules beetle, Dynastes hercules, is the most famous and largest of the rhinoceros beetles. It is native to the rainforests of Central America, South America, and the Lesser Antilles . Their title is well deserved, with some males reaching 6.75 inches in length...
s, the duppy bats (black witch moths)
Ascalapha odorata
The noctuid moth Ascalapha odorata bears the common name Black Witch. It is considered a harbinger of death in Mexican and Caribbean folklore...
, and walking sticks
Phasmatodea
The Phasmatodea are an order of insects, whose members are variously known as stick insects , walking sticks or stick-bugs , phasmids, ghost insects and leaf insects...
.
Tourist attractions
Among the interesting visitor sites in Guadeloupe National Park are:
- La Soufrière
- Carbet FallsCarbet FallsCarbet Falls is a series of waterfalls on the Carbet River in Guadeloupe, an overseas department of France located in the Leeward Islands of the eastern Caribbean region. Its three cascades are set amid the tropical rainforests on the lower slopes of the volcano La Soufrière...
- the two Mamelles and the Traversée road
- Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin Nature Reserve
- numerous hiking trails throughout the park