Bottle Creek Pineyard

A(i)Site contains one or more globally threatened species, C(iii)Site contains nationally threatened or restricted habitat or vegetation types, AND/OR habitats that have severely declined in extent nationally

This site qualifies as a TIPA under criterion A(iii) due to being one of the five best sites for the globally threatened Caicos Pine (Pinus caribea var. bahamensis) and subsequently also one of the five best sites for the threatened pineyard habitat, further qualifying it under criterion C(iii).

This TIPA is situated centrally on North Caicos, to the west and south of Bottle Creek, extending as far as Ready Money to the east. It is a large site encompassing the entirety of the Pineyard habitat on North Caicos and is and bounded by mangroves at its furthest extent.

The Bottle Creek pineyard is the only site on North Caicos where the threatened national tree Pinus caribaea var. bahamensis can be found growing wild. This TIPA also contains species of conservation importance such as the aquatic Lucayan endemic plant the Hat-pin sedge, Eleocharis bahamensis and the threatened shrub Chamaecrista caribaea. Species of socio-economic importance such as the Pineland creeper, Ernodea serratifolia, a characteristic shrub of the pineyard, and Stachytarpheta fruticosa also grow here. Recently, a new record for TCI of the pondweed Potamogeton illinoiense was discovered here. This TIPA remains under-explored botanically due to its terrain, remoteness and relatively large size.

This site is one of the five best sites in TCI for the globally threatened pineyard habitat. Pine yards are seasonally flooded, fire-climax communities which occur on lateritic soil over limestone rock and are only found in inland areas in Turks and Caicos where they are protected from salt spray. This TIPA also includes large areas of the tropical dry forest, palustrine swamp/marsh and limestone thicket habitats.

The population of this tree here was largely killed off during a sea surge event in 2008, then further decimated in 2009 due to an agricultural fire. Its regeneration is continually hampered by infestation by the scale insect Toumeyella parvicornis. Consequently, the area has become largely dominated by broadleaf vegetation. Mature trees and seedlings are now being observed, signalling the beginnings of recovery of the pines, though ongoing human intervention will be needed if restoration of the former pineyard can be achieved. Other threats to this area include inundation by seawater from storm surge, and proliferation of invasive plant species, notably Casuarina equesitifolia.

Assessed by:

Bryan Naqqi Manco, Department for Environment and Coastal Resources, Turks and Caicos Government

Junel Blaise, Department for Environment and Coastal Resources, Turks and Caicos Government

Dodly Propser, Department for Environment and Coastal Resources, Turks and Caicos Government

Amy Barker, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Sara Bárrios, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Elloise Budd, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Stuart Cable, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Colin Clubbe, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Marcella Corcoran, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Thomas Heller, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Juan Viruel, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Tim Wilkinson, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Date of first assessment: 14th Feb 2025