Status of Caribbean forest endemics special issue : editors' foreword

Abstract

The high degree of avian endemism in the Caribbean is arguably one of the most defining qualities of the region, and an irreplaceable part of its natural heritage. However, these Small Island Developing States (SIDS) face tremendous challenges retaining these irreplaceable elements of biodiversity such as habitat loss, over-exploitation, alien invasive species, and climate change. This is especially the case for Caribbean forest-dependent endemic birds, which due to their habitat requirements, are a group often most threatened by human activity.