Country: Turks-Caicos Is.
Administrative region: Middle Caicos (Island)
Central co-ordinates: 21.81455 N, 71.78036 W
Area: 11.46km²
Qualifying IPA Criteria
A(i)Site contains one or more globally threatened species, B(ii)Site contains an exceptional number of species of high conservation importance, B(iii)Site contains an exceptional number of socially, economically or culturally valuable species, C(iii)Site contains nationally threatened or restricted habitat or vegetation types, AND/OR habitats that have severely declined in extent nationally
IPA assessment rationale
This site was severely impacted by the invasive scale insect, Toumeyella parvicornis, which as well as directly causing significant pine tree mortality, reduced its resistance to fires and hurricane/storm surge damage. Though the pineyard is recovering, this remains an ongoing risk. Fires can cause mortality of young pine trees, with fires being most severe when broadleaf vegetation becomes dominant in the habitat.
Site description
This site is situated south of Conch Bar and Middle Caicos airstrip, extending east as far as Bambarra. Its northern boundary follows the King Road and the southern edge of Bambarra Ridge. To the south the boundary is by another ridge, beyond which is the Swash pineyard, marshland and mangroves. The site includes Conch Bar caves.
Botanical significance
This site is critically important for the national tree, Pinus caribaea var. bahamensis and the endemic rosette herb Stenandrium carolinae, both of which are globally threatened species. This TIPA is also one of the few sites in Turks and Caicos for the lithophytic orchid Encyclia correllii. Species of high conservation importance found here include the threatened Chamaecrista caribaea, the near-endemic orchid Encyclia inaguensis and the Lucayan endemic shrub Catesbaea foliosa. assessed globally as Near Threatened. Many species of socio-economic importance also grow here, such as the medicinal species Thouinia discolor, Stachytarpheta fruticosa and Tabebuia bahamensis.
Habitat and geology
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.
Conservation issues
This site was severely impacted by the invasive scale insect, Toumeyella parvicornis, which as well as directly causing significant pine tree mortality, reduced its resistance to fires and hurricane/storm surge damage. Though the pineyard is recovering, this remains an ongoing risk. Fires can cause mortality of young pine trees, with fires being most severe when broadleaf vegetation becomes dominant in the habitat.
Site assessor(s)
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
IPA criterion A species
| Species | Qualifying sub-criterion | ≥ 1% of global population | ≥ 5% of national population | 1 of 5 best sites nationally | Entire global population | Socio-economically important | Abundance at site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chamaecrista caribaea | A(i) |  |
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| Pinus caribaea var. bahamensis | A(i) | |
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| Stenandrium carolinae | A(i) | |
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Chamaecrista caribaea
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Pinus caribaea var. bahamensis
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Stenandrium carolinae
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
General site habitats
| General site habitat | Percent coverage | Importance |
|---|---|---|
| Caves and Subterranean Habitats (non-aquatic) - Caves | |
|
| Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Mangrove Forest Vegetation Above High Tide Level | |
|
| Wetlands (inland) - Permanent Saline, Brackish or Alkaline Marshes/Pools | |
|
| Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Dry Forest | |
Caves and Subterranean Habitats (non-aquatic) - Caves
Percent coverage:
Importance:
Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Mangrove Forest Vegetation Above High Tide Level
Percent coverage:
Importance:
Wetlands (inland) - Permanent Saline, Brackish or Alkaline Marshes/Pools
Percent coverage:
Importance:
Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Dry Forest
Percent coverage:
Importance:
Threats
| Threat | Severity | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases - Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Named species | High | Ongoing - increasing |
| Natural system modifications - Fire & fire suppression | Medium | Ongoing - increasing |
| Climate change & severe weather - Storms & flooding | High | Ongoing - increasing |
Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases - Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Named species
Severity:
High
Timing:
Ongoing - increasing
Natural system modifications - Fire & fire suppression
Severity:
Medium
Timing:
Ongoing - increasing
Climate change & severe weather - Storms & flooding
Severity:
High
Timing:
Ongoing - increasing
Recommended citation
Bryan Naqqi Manco, Junel Blaise, Dodly Propser, Amy Barker, Sara Bárrios, Elloise Budd, Stuart Cable, Colin Clubbe, Marcella Corcoran, Thomas Heller, Juan Viruel, Tim Wilkinson (2025) Tropical Important Plant Areas Explorer: Conch Bar Pineyard (Turks-Caicos Is.). https://tipas.kew.org/site/conch-bar-pineyard/ (Accessed on 20/06/2025)