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Saint Kitts and Nevis

Known habitat occurrence

Based on the scientific literature, the following marine and coastal habitats are known to occur in Saint Kitts and Nevis. In some cases, a habitat may be shown to have a 'Confirmed Presence' but will not be reflected in the habitat location map or habitat representation figure below. This may be due to limited availability or permitted access to spatial data on the locations of these habitats.

Confirmed Presence

Warm-water corals

Confirmed Presence

Saltmarshes

Confirmed Presence

Mangroves

Confirmed Presence

Seagrasses

Confirmed Presence

Cold-water corals

Note: If you are aware of available spatial data or information that can be used to improve the state of knowledge regarding these habitats, please contact us at oceanplus@unep-wcmc.org.

Habitat location

According to currently available spatial data, these habitats are found in the following locations throughout Saint Kitts and Nevis.

Disclaimer: The designations employed and the presentation of material on this map do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. * Non-Self-Governing Territory ** Dotted line represents approximately the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir agreed upon by India and Pakistan. The final status of Jammu and Kashmir has not yet been agreed upon by the parties. *** A dispute exists between the Governments of Argentina and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland concerning sovereignty over the Falkland Islands (Malvinas).

Note: In some cases, spatial data exist but are not yet available under an open data licence or online. If you have or are aware of information missing here, please contact us at oceanplus@unep-wcmc.org.

Habitat representation

The proportion of Saint Kitts and Nevis's coastline that is located within 30km of coastal and marine habitats is illustrated below.

Percentage of coastline (130 km) covered by habitats

Note: 'Multiple habitats' represent locations where more than one habitat occurs along the coastline.

Proportion of habitat within protected and conserved areas

According to the World Database on Protected Areas, the following reflects the proportion of habitats found within marine and coastal protected areas in Saint Kitts and Nevis.

0.0% of 41.8 km2

Warm-water corals

0.0% of 0 km2

Saltmarshes

0.0% of 0.3 km2

Mangroves

0.0% of 60.1 km2

Seagrasses

0.0% of 6.5 km2

Cold-water corals

Note: This outlines the proportion of each habitat that is known to occur within protected areas. However, the level of protection and whether or not these habitats are explicitly and effectively protected is unknown.

Last updated: Dec, 2024

Species composition and status by habitat

The table below outlines the number of species for each habitat by their global IUCN Red List status, illustrating the number of assessed species known to occur in Saint Kitts and Nevis.

IUCN Red List logo
WWC Warm-water corals
SM Saltmarshes
M Mangroves
SG Seagrasses
CWC Cold-water corals
Critically endangered icon Critically endangered
Endangered icon Endangered
Vulnerable icon Vulnerable
Near threatened icon Near threatened
Least concern icon Least concern
Data deficient icon Data deficient
Not evaluated icon Not evaluated
Total:
2
2
6
0
41
4
0
55
0
0
0
0
3
0
0
3
0
0
0
0
7
0
0
7
0
0
0
0
3
0
0
3
0
0
1
0
7
0
0
8

Disclaimer: hese statuses derive from global assessments, and do not necessarily reflect each species’ status by country. We will endeavour to strengthen alignment with national Red List assessments, where possible. Please contact us at oceanplus@unep-wcmc.org if you would like to provide further information.

Source: Adapted from data available through the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

Last updated: Dec, 2024

Examples of species and their status for habitat:

Sources: Species images, where available, were drawn from the World Atlas of Mangroves (Spalding et al., 2010) and the World Atlas of Seagrasses (Green and Short, 2003). Saltmarshes, cold-water corals and warm-water corals do not currently have detailed species images. Species Red List statuses were drawn from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, version 2021-1.

Last updated: Dec, 2024

Change in habitat extent

The following describes the known change in habitat extent, based on available data. Often, datasets tracking yearly change in extent are not available at a national level for many habitats, though new data are becoming available with technological advances.

Loss of
--

Warm-water corals

Data not available
Loss of
--

Saltmarshes

Data not available
Loss of
--

Mangroves

Data not available
Loss of
--

Seagrasses

Data not available
Loss of
--

Cold-water corals

Data not available

Note: In many cases, an exact estimate of spatial change in the distribution of habitats at the national level is unknown. Changes in the availability and use of remote sensing technology is beginning to generate new data that can improve our understanding of change in extent over time.

Habitat condition

Insufficient data exists to assess habitat condition in Saint Kitts and Nevis at this time. If you are aware of available spatial data or information that can be used to improve the state of knowledge regarding habitat condition, please contact us at oceanplus@unep-wcmc.org.

Contributions and targets

  • Target 5. The rate of loss of all natural habitats, including forests, is at least halved and where feasible brought close to zero, and degradation and fragmentation is significantly reduced.

  • Target 10. The multiple anthropogenic pressures on coral reefs, and other vulnerable ecosystems impacted by climate change or ocean acidification are minimized, so as to maintain their integrity and functioning.

  • Target 11. At least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem services, are conserved through effectively and equitably managed.

  • Target 14. Ecosystems that provide essential services are restored and safeguarded.

  • Target 15. Ecosystem resilience and the contribution of biodiversity to carbon stocks has been enhanced, through conservation and restoration, including restoration of at least 15 per cent of degraded ecosystems.

  • Target 17. Parties have developed, adopted as a policy instrument, and commenced implementing effective, participatory and updated national biodiversity strategy and action plans.

  • Target 19. Knowledge, the science base and technologies relating to biodiversity, its values, functioning, status and trends, and the consequences of its loss, are improved, widely shared and transferred, and applied.

  • SDG 12.2 Achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.

  • SDG 14.2 Sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems […], including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans.

  • SDG 14.5 Conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information.

  • SDG 15.5 Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species.

  • SDG 15.9 Integrate ecosystem and biodiversity values into national and local planning, development processes, poverty reduction strategies and accounts.

  • Main national data sources

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  • Download spatial data

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  • Download the statistics

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Select habitat shape file

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Citation

UNEP-WCMC (2024). Ocean+ Habitats: Saint Kitts and Nevis [On-line], [insert month/year of the version downloaded]. Available at: habitats.oceanplus.org/saint-kitts-and-nevis